Liberal Leadership Convention Kicks Off

I'm trying to stay out of this but this is far too good:

Howard Dean... He's not Canadian, is he.
He's .. Hmmm. American?
Why are Liberals taking advise from an American?
Didn't the Paul Martin Liberals make it clear that all things "American" were wrong? Wasn't that the whole thing behind the "American style" slander?

I loved Paul Martins speech that the Libs ned to unify. Unify is definately what I think of when I recall the career of Paul Martin...
that or a turd.

I would like to think that the liberal party is evolving along with canadians, the Harper government is doing well, so the liberals adjust. I think Harper deserves a majority but I also think he needs a strong opposition that can challenge him.

Conservatives sent campaign organizers to Republican school in the States before the last election. Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, was a keynote speaker at the Liberal leadership convention. There's a definate alliance here. So much for keeping the countries separate. However, I felt he gave a great speach. Then I saw it live. I'm logged on from the Cyber Café at the conference right now. The tribute to Paul Martin was great! All the entertainment is really spectacular! I've been to a few symposia organized by NASA or the CSA, and conferences by the Mars Society; they don't hold a candle to this!

One technique the Conservatives learned at Republican school was to "mine" churches for campaign volunteers. Of course the cost is that leaves the party beholden to the religious sector. Should the Liberal party "mine" community centres? Eh, do our own thing, get everyone involved.

It's really cool! I get to talk to the party president, senators and MPs, and leadership candidates. Of course it helps walking around with a delegate badge. We voted on a new party consititution. I spoke on several policy resolutions, and get a vote on everything. I have to go, I'm scheduled to volunteer for my leadership campaign in a few minutes. I'm told I'll be assigned to "mobile mob", that means following the candidate while chanting and carrying a sign. One organizer nic-named the signs "popsickles", sign on a stick.

Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Dion

Ken Drydans speach was very heartfelt, looks like a lot of un being there.

Dion's speech was good, I like his 3 pilar ideal.
I think Dion and Kennedy are my favorites at this point. But both Dryden and Dion spent a lot of time bashing harper.

GK's speach was really good, I can really picture him as Prime Minister. The young Trudeau introduced Gerard Kennedy.

Justine Trudeau looks just like his dad.....The best line of Kennedys speach was"together we can keep Mr Harper from doing to Canada what Harris did to Ontario"

I'm not committed to either of the three major federal parties, but I'm following the Liberal convention closely.

If I was Stephen Harper, the potential Liberal leader that I'd be the most worried about is Ignatieff. The one I'd be hoping for to win is Bob Rea.

Of all of the leadership contenders, Ignatieff is the one who gives me a Trudeau-esque feeling. He is extremely eloquent, and both looks and sounds Prime Ministerial to me.

Don't get me wrong - most of the leadership contenders gave good speeches in my mind, but Ignatieff had the most memorable one.

Also, in an one-on-one with Harper, Ignatieff strikes me as the least vulnerable of the front-runners.

I don't see many avenues through which Harper could effectively attack Ignatieff - there is the Israeli/Palestinian issue, but I dare say at this point most people are well aware of where the federal parties stand on the issue, and if they're very pro-Israel they're already Conservative, and if they're more pro-Palestine, they're already Liberal or NDP.

Ignatieff, due to NOT having a long life as an actual politician, has no record that Harper could effectively assail (as he could do with Bob Rae's record, should Bob take the leadership of the party). I also like how Ignatieff smoothly moves from one language (English) to the next (French). I personally felt that having a French-language chant interspersed within English words was a stroke of brilliance on Ignatieff's part - because by doing so he effectively speaks both languages, but also resonates with English-speaking Canadians that are not bi-lingual.

Ignatieff has that 'larger than life' presence to him - the video presentation helped that a lot.

In my view, I have a hard time imagining either one of Rea, Kennedy, or Dion, managing to unseat Harper. Each of the three have weaknesses that I think Harper could very effectively exploit.

Ignatieff, on the other hand, would pose a real challenge to Harper. I think that a lot of liberal/conservtive swing voters would move over to Ignatieff since Ignatieff comes across as very charismatic, sensible, and strong, with out many knocks that can be made against him.

OMG. Dion is in very good position to win !

It will be between Rae and Dion. My guess is that Ignatieff may give his support to Rae to block Dion. It would be so bad for the liberals to have Dion... and I would lose 20$ !

I am disappointed in the loss of a chance to see Kennedy as the next leader. I saw him as "The Phoenix" that would re ignite the Liberals with a renewed vigor for the future. a new fresh start to the party and policies. Also a new view for many people of the party.

Procu can you say this

Stéphane Dion Prime minister of Canada

J'ai quand même un bon mot pour Dion. Il est le seul de tout les fédéralistes Québecois qui se comporte comme un véritable patriote Canadien. En tout les cas c'est comme ça qu'il argumente sont point de vue. Tant mieux pour lui car selon moi c'est la seul bonne raison pour justifier ce choix.

PS:Te souvien tu de ce que Mulcair à dit à l'assemblé nationnal après deux ans de négociation avec Dion?

Imagine le maintenant premier ministre. Même Jean Charest va vouloir faire un référendum!