Sunday, November 30, 2008

House Cleaning

Just to be clear, and not that it necessarily matters in the grand scheme, my earlier concerns, will not preclude me from getting behind Stephane Dion 100% if this deal, is the real deal.

I respect Stephane Dion, he has the country's interests at heart and he would conduct himself with seriousness and dignity. Let's make it work.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I fully agree. Dion is flawed without a doubt, but he's a decent guy. There may be better candidates, but he'll do alright for this country I think.

James Curran said...

What exactly was Stephane's flaw?

Cathie from Canada said...

Yes, Dion made mistakes but he is a true Canadian loyalist and has the best interests of the country at heart.
Now, if we can get Paul Martin on side again, to reassure the Bay Street boys and make sure the TSX doesn't tank...

Constant Vigilance said...

The TSX tanking was another talking point. It was up on Friday after the Coalition talk started on Thursday. They could just as well be a case of the market liking the idea of the replacement of a government that doesn't believe in stimulus.

As for Dion, this is a tough analogy to saddle the man with but here goes.I believe Dion is the man Canada needs right now. Churchill was tossed aside by the electorate before and after the war.

tdwebste said...

James, I can list a few very serious errors Stephane Dion made, but I won't.

Please don't ask questions you don't want answers too.

Kris said...

2.5 years, 75/25 cabinet, Dion as PM until May, which means proper leadership contest... can't say until some policy comes through but so far I'd support this.

Steve V said...

Might as well put this in here, because the rabid dogs are coming anyways:

Here

Kris said...

Dion/Ignatieff... I'm good to go so long as the Harper out part sticks.

Gayle said...

As long as Rae, Leblanc and Dion agree, it can work.

Steve V said...

A joint news conference, wherein Rae eloquently makes the case, Dion preaches unity, and it's full speed ahead. That's the key, a front of party unity, Layton is already privy, so it can fly, stragglers aside.

Steve V said...

BTW, I meant it when I said I would back Dion.

Hard to keep up, the most amazing week I've seen in Canadian politics.

Anonymous said...

No doubt it is hard to keep up. Either way, Dion or Ignatieff, so long as Harper is gone. I like the idea of Dion - since I think he has what it takes to get people to work together, but, at the same time, I could see how Ignatieff could work well in the long run.

In any case, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out over the minutes, days, and weeks ahead.

Blues Clair said...

"Well that’s tidy. Leadership races are such a bore. So instead of a Prime Minister who had just lost an election, we’d get a PM who has never been elected — not as PM, not as party leader, not as anything until two years ago."
-Andrew Coyne

There it is Liberals, hopefully Ivison is wrong or else you just handed Harper a large hammer.

Blues Clair said...

btw, I don't trust Ivison one bit.

Steve V said...

Blues

Nor do I, nor do I.

Blues Clair said...

Fuck me. Read this Globe and Mail editorial. It is shocking, for it's last paragraph.

Harper should resign.

James Curran said...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iaExgnmDuSmzy5o0Q5nGP0cTL6xg

Anonymous said...

I don't trust Ivison either. Something doesn't feel right about that article. And it's significant that none of the other media outlets have picked it up - ie: the Globe and Mail, The CBC, or the Toronto Star.

sassy said...

Kelvin said "Something doesn't feel right about that article"

Agreed, hard not to notice the use of: is understod (used at least three times). sources and rumours in that NP article

It is understood from sources that rumours ....

Anonymous said...

I think James Curran's link just proved my point. Clearly it's not yet resolved. I'd believe the Canadian Press to the National Post any day (and we should, because doesn't the Canadian Press represent all news agencies?)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iaExgnmDuSmzy5o0Q5nGP0cTL6xg

Anonymous said...

There is a general understanding that even if Dion stays on, he will be gone by May. I expect the coalition to be relatively stable until then (two and a half years), even though the three leadership candidates will not be in the coalition early on.

Still, I don't understand this sniping, even among bloggers. The Grits end up as big winners (NDP only got six Cabinet posts along with the Deputy PM and the Finance portfolios). This is a major win for a party with only 70-odd seats. Unless Layton did this, knowing that the Grits would fall over themselves and he ends up being the biggest winner.

Anonymous said...

The NDP get finance cabinet posts?

Is so, I won't support the coalition.

Steve V said...

Bob Rae this morning:

"He said there was no talk of which of the three candidates would eventually become prime minister, contrary to some reports.

"There was no discussion of that, that was not at all decided and that was not asked for," Rae told Canada AM.

"Nobody was being asked to do that, so like a lot of things you read in the newspaper that happens to be untrue... what was really discussed was how do we create the unity that's needed, how do we create the discipline that's necessary to ensure we succeed."

Anonymous said...

Anon at 8:44,

Sorry, the Grits retain the Deputy PM and the Finance portfolios. Big concession from Layton and Mulcair, although the corporate tax cuts will be delayed for awhile.

Gayle said...

Blues - you should not be surprised by that article.

Either the Globe supports Harper, or the Globe editorial board admits they were wrong about him in the first place.

Clearly they have chosen the former.