This is absolute freaking crap!!! I have voted Liberal for every election in the last twenty years and I can't believe we are going to have yet another Goddamned "coronation" of a supposed messiah. This smells like Paul Martin all over again and look where that bloody well got us. I am no fan of Bob Rae, but at least if we had a leadership contest there might be an exchange of ideas and gasp! Prospective policies that Canadians might be interested in learning about. So much for the rank and file in the party, I am ready to rip up my membership because Liberals still don't damned well get it!!!!!!!
There needs to be a new center party in Canada because the Liberals just don't get it anymore. I am so Goddamned angry about Ignatieff and this ridiculous coronation. The Liberal Party used to be the party of mainstream Canadians but it has ripped itself to shreds with ongoing power struggles while we regular people have watched the country morph into partisan Tory-land. For Liberals, it's no longer about the long game and building policies that resonate with Canadians, it's all about getting back into power as quickly as possible.
Well no more! This Liberal has had it and I am calling for a new party of the center with good policies and values that Canadians will embrace.
One thing this does do is free Bob Rae from fighting for the leadership so that he can devote full time to fighting for the coalition, which is why I suspect he is doing it.
I am trying to contact the Rae supporters to confirm this news.
You should just wait for the Conservatives to release the secretly recorded tape of the call.
Anyways, good for Rae for putting the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the few or the one. Now the party has to focus on shoving all the phony liberals out the door. I suggest Neil be the first one to go.
I hope we have an election in January and I hope voters give Harper his majority. (That's o0f #$%@*%& mad I am about this!!!) The total decimation of the Liberal party is the only thing the party establishment will understand and the only thing that will rescue progressives in the country.
What a Goddamned joke the Liberal party has become. Unreal.
The kicker, Robert is such a fraud, he lectures others, but he hasn't given ONE RED CENT to the NDP. He's just hot air, nothing more, nothing less. Phony Dipper, with a keyboard. Yawn.
>>Spoken like a true NDP supporter hoping to see the NDP poisoning the Liberal well.<<
I wouldn't support those @#@holes if you paid me. Layton can't even light a candle to a great Liberal leader like Chretien. Jean Chretien, as far as I am concerned, is the LAST true Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Neil, you'll get another party alright, but it won't be a centre one. Why doyou think the NDP campainged so hard in the last election to replace the Liberals as opposition? Why do you think that Rae is so hard on pursuing this coalition? Poisoning the Liberal well is only the preliminary step. When the time eventually comes when you cannot distinguish between the Liberals and the NDP, thanks initially in part to the coalition and after sucessive Tory governments that the opposition can no longer tolerate, a serious move to unite the NDP and the Liberals will be made. And the Liberal party will be destroyed. It happened to the Progressive Conservatives. Don't think it can't happen to the Liberal party. Its already started.
If this news is true, an enormous opportunity would be wasted in not making immediate symbolic and real gestures to keep the enormous talents of Bob Rae (as well as the energy and idealism of his many supporters) close to the heart of the party. Bob Rae is a great Canadian. (And I love how he steamrolls over the CTV(spit) media types.)
an enormous opportunity would be wasted in not making immediate symbolic and real gestures to keep the enormous talents of Bob Rae (as well as the energy and idealism of his many supporters) close to the heart of the party.
Iggy could do this by announcing that Rae will continue to sell the coalition to Canadians.
Aaron, the liberals need to quit jacking off and let everyone know one way or the other if it's worth investing their time and money to sell the coalition to the Canadian public.
That sale has been refunded, Robert. Haven't you been paying attention to the myriad amount of polls telling you that? Give it up, its over. The NDP is NOT going to leech onto the Liberals, they're not going to be taking them over. I know its the burning ambition of the NDP and the supporters to replace the Liberals as the opposition, but your dream is going to be. Sorry.
Great news, glad Bob saw the light and will back Iggy fully.
Its now time to band together to fight the real enemy. You all remember who that is or do you want a few more years of that dick? If you'd rather have Harper in place out of spite, then you are certainly not a true Liberal.
Remember that Iggy promised us a policy convention, so we need to hold him to that.
Once again this is great news. I do not believe Iggy is our saviour, but it is an upgrade.
Moreover, I think Iggy is more off a caretaker, for the next few years, until the next great leadership battle btw Leblanc, Trudeau, GK et al. It gives them time to build themselves up, while the party is rebuilt.
Dear Liberals Thanks for expediting the leadership. Now all I ask is that your leader take a clear stand on the future of the coalition (and letting Jim Karygiannis speak to the media does not count). Thanks.
Think so Steve? The Tories will be ecstatic. The next election ads will just write themselves - *Liberal backroom deal to usurp the government and now another backroom deal for the leadership of their party. Who is that with the hidden agenda again?*
As a Rae supporter, I am disappointed, but I think Bob is doing what is good for the party and the country. He will continue to push for broadening the base and keeping our alliances intact.
"There is only one thing we can do about this: live the way we are supposed to live, as our Constitution commands us to, with dignity and respect for all. Being an American is not easy. It is hard. We are required to keep some serious promises. We are judged by a high standard, one We crafted for ourselves in the founding documents of the republic, the ones that talk about the equality of all people, the ones that tell us that government is of the people, by the people and for the people. We need to live by this, at home and abroad, and it is just about the only thing we can do to face the hatred of those who want to destroy us. Our best defense is to stay true to who we are. Our best defense is to refuse to live in fear, of them, of ourselves, of anyone." - Ignatieff.
An awful lot of intimate and inclusive WE, OUR, and US in that speech in regards to being American. For years you guys made erroneous reference to Harper's connection to the US. Now the shoe is going to be on the other foot. Delicious irony.
The question the Conservatives need to ask themselves today is the Liberal party a stronger party after tomorrow? The answer is yes, so it is doubtful Harper can be happy about today's news.
There is no doubt we are stronger party today and we are coming to kick yo ass!
*Yawn* I've been hearing that since you chose your last leader after two elections ago. So crown King Iggy. Obviously you don't remember the results of the last Liberal coronation. I do. :D
This Bob Rae fan humbly accepts defeat. It was the best move for all, electability being the key.
Ignatieff will steal some PC votes away from the Cons, no doubt, and he'll massacre Harper in debates. They may not be worried about imminent threats but they know he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. At least the intelligent ones do (anonymous rabble rousers not included)
His biggest challenge will not be besting Conservatives on policy or politics but rather getting the LPC donation train going. If he can reverse your public/private revenue ratio, everything changes.
If I were him, I would take a year or so in Opposition to sell myself to potential donors. There will be much fodder from gov during 2009 to contrast against. The economic crisis will play into his hand. Then, once the party is revitalized and the economy is set to rebound, take down the gov and take credit.
I was pumped for the coalition but upon reflection I think it was the nerdy politico side of myself that just wanted to see something crazy happen. Ignatieff should end the coaltion talk now and distance himself from all things Dion. (even the Green Shift, regrettably)
Steve, can I expect to see you on team Ignatieff? Staff positions will be openning up soon...;)
Plus the process it not really the issue, a coronation and a full fledged leadership race like Montreal did not produce the right leader. And thats the point, its not the process but the result. Do we have the right leader this time, time will tell. I believe we do.
You know - the NDP supporters can moan and groan all they want - it is not about the coalition. It is about the Liberal leadership. Layton cannot be allowed to control the Liberals.
So, we use the coalition IF NEED be.
I'm relieved and I know the Rae supporters won't like it - democratic stuff and all, but the Liberal delegates are to blame for this. They voted down OMOV at the last convention.
Dion was humiliated and although I'm not a Rae fan I wouldn't want him humiliated either. He doesn't deserve it, just like Dion didn't deserve.
Dion did not have enough supporters, just like Rae doesn't - and it was a backroom deal that got Dion in.
2 years have been wasted and if the race went on - another 6 months and it time to move on.
The delegates at the last convention disenfranchized the members their vote to not allow democracy with the OMOV.
So, now let's try to change that. I know so many people that felt their membership meant nothing and didn't renew or donate.
"The other parties aren't going to wait around forever."
Where are they going to go? I guess they could form their own coaltion and ask the GG to give them Official Opposition status. I'm sure that would work out well. Or they could use their majority of unelected candidates to set up a sweet shadow government in Outremont!
The NDP are going to get lost in the shuffle. Expect more idle threats.
If you hate what happened here today, pause for a moment, go have a smoke, do some yoga, have sex, if you can't have sex, masturbate. Do whatever you do to relax. Then, if you are still mad, realize there is more reason than ever to be a Liberal. Renew your membership, donate to the party, and attend the conference where you can vote once again on a One Member, One Vote platform so this doesn't happen again.
Now that we have the leadership outa the way the question becomes:
1. Coalition? 2. Snap election? 3. Wait?
Iggy was the right choice, even if it frightens you that I would agree with him as leader.
However, the coalition needs to beaten to the ground quickly. The damage may already be done, but persisting in it only adds to the ammunition in the next election, whenever it might be.
MI was smart enough to distance himself early, so I suspect the coalition of leftist stupidity will be dead in short order.
This is absolute freaking crap!!! I have voted Liberal for every election in the last twenty years and I can't believe we are going to have yet another Goddamned "coronation" of a supposed messiah. This smells like Paul Martin all over again and look where that bloody well got us. I am no fan of Bob Rae, but at least if we had a leadership contest there might be an exchange of ideas and gasp! Prospective policies that Canadians might be interested in learning about. So much for the rank and file in the party, I am ready to rip up my membership because Liberals still don't damned well get it!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that Fife is wrong. I am trying to contact the Rae supporters to confirm this news.
ReplyDeleteAll hail the king.
ReplyDeleteAnd internal strife within the Liberal party continues on. (*glasses clinking*)
Renewal.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be a new center party in Canada because the Liberals just don't get it anymore. I am so Goddamned angry about Ignatieff and this ridiculous coronation. The Liberal Party used to be the party of mainstream Canadians but it has ripped itself to shreds with ongoing power struggles while we regular people have watched the country morph into partisan Tory-land. For Liberals, it's no longer about the long game and building policies that resonate with Canadians, it's all about getting back into power as quickly as possible.
ReplyDeleteWell no more! This Liberal has had it and I am calling for a new party of the center with good policies and values that Canadians will embrace.
Heh, is that what you call it?
ReplyDeleteOne thing this does do is free Bob Rae from fighting for the leadership so that he can devote full time to fighting for the coalition, which is why I suspect he is doing it.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to contact the Rae supporters to confirm this news.
ReplyDeleteYou should just wait for the Conservatives to release the secretly recorded tape of the call.
Anyways, good for Rae for putting the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the few or the one. Now the party has to focus on shoving all the phony liberals out the door. I suggest Neil be the first one to go.
Now the party has to focus on shoving all the phony liberals out the door. I suggest Neil be the first one to go.
ReplyDeleteSpoken like a true NDP supporter hoping to see the NDP poisoning the Liberal well.
I hope we have an election in January and I hope voters give Harper his majority. (That's o0f #$%@*%& mad I am about this!!!)
ReplyDeleteThe total decimation of the Liberal party is the only thing the party establishment will understand and the only thing that will rescue progressives in the country.
What a Goddamned joke the Liberal party has become. Unreal.
anon
ReplyDeleteThe kicker, Robert is such a fraud, he lectures others, but he hasn't given ONE RED CENT to the NDP. He's just hot air, nothing more, nothing less. Phony Dipper, with a keyboard. Yawn.
>>Spoken like a true NDP supporter hoping to see the NDP poisoning the Liberal well.<<
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't support those @#@holes if you paid me. Layton can't even light a candle to a great Liberal leader like Chretien. Jean Chretien, as far as I am concerned, is the LAST true Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
lets not get too hasty Neil. Nobody wants to wake up to that for the next 4 years every day....
ReplyDeleteNeil
ReplyDeleteI recommend chamomile, maybe a double bag.
its true. they mailed me this morning to tell me to call off the campaign. its all over.
ReplyDeletedamn that pompous ass ignatieff. goodbye coalition.
The kicker, Robert is such a fraud,
ReplyDeleteSo the coalition is off then.
the Globe and Star are reporting it too now
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily ;)
ReplyDeleteNeil, you'll get another party alright, but it won't be a centre one. Why doyou think the NDP campainged so hard in the last election to replace the Liberals as opposition? Why do you think that Rae is so hard on pursuing this coalition? Poisoning the Liberal well is only the preliminary step. When the time eventually comes when you cannot distinguish between the Liberals and the NDP, thanks initially in part to the coalition and after sucessive Tory governments that the opposition can no longer tolerate, a serious move to unite the NDP and the Liberals will be made. And the Liberal party will be destroyed. It happened to the Progressive Conservatives. Don't think it can't happen to the Liberal party. Its already started.
ReplyDeleteGee, I think Neil is mad.
ReplyDeleteTime to move forward people.
Kumbaya LOL
ReplyDeleteIf this news is true, an enormous opportunity would be wasted in not making immediate symbolic and real gestures to keep the enormous talents of Bob Rae (as well as the energy and idealism of his many supporters) close to the heart of the party. Bob Rae is a great Canadian. (And I love how he steamrolls over the CTV(spit) media types.)
an enormous opportunity would be wasted in not making immediate symbolic and real gestures to keep the enormous talents of Bob Rae (as well as the energy and idealism of his many supporters) close to the heart of the party.
ReplyDeleteIggy could do this by announcing that Rae will continue to sell the coalition to Canadians.
Robert, the Liberal leadership need to consult with the members on what to do next.
ReplyDeleteAaron, the liberals need to quit jacking off and let everyone know one way or the other if it's worth investing their time and money to sell the coalition to the Canadian public.
ReplyDeleteI think Ignatieff should meet with Layton soon.
ReplyDeleteRae's presser moved up to 1pm.
ReplyDeleteThat sale has been refunded, Robert. Haven't you been paying attention to the myriad amount of polls telling you that? Give it up, its over. The NDP is NOT going to leech onto the Liberals, they're not going to be taking them over. I know its the burning ambition of the NDP and the supporters to replace the Liberals as the opposition, but your dream is going to be. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteha ha good one Steve.
ReplyDeleteGreat news, glad Bob saw the light and will back Iggy fully.
Its now time to band together to fight the real enemy. You all remember who that is or do you want a few more years of that dick? If you'd rather have Harper in place out of spite, then you are certainly not a true Liberal.
lib
ReplyDeleteI think the key question Liberals need ask themselves today- is Stephen Harper happy with today's conclusion? Methinks not, and that's the bottomline.
Remember that Iggy promised us a policy convention, so we need to hold him to that.
ReplyDeleteOnce again this is great news. I do not believe Iggy is our saviour, but it is an upgrade.
Moreover, I think Iggy is more off a caretaker, for the next few years, until the next great leadership battle btw Leblanc, Trudeau, GK et al. It gives them time to build themselves up, while the party is rebuilt.
Great day though, great day...
Dear Liberals
ReplyDeleteThanks for expediting the leadership. Now all I ask is that your leader take a clear stand on the future of the coalition (and letting Jim Karygiannis speak to the media does not count). Thanks.
Think so Steve? The Tories will be ecstatic. The next election ads will just write themselves - *Liberal backroom deal to usurp the government and now another backroom deal for the leadership of their party. Who is that with the hidden agenda again?*
ReplyDeleteanon
ReplyDeleteYes, yes I do. Back under the bridge.
As a Rae supporter, I am disappointed, but I think Bob is doing what is good for the party and the country. He will continue to push for broadening the base and keeping our alliances intact.
ReplyDelete"There is only one thing we can do about this: live the way we are supposed to live, as our Constitution commands us to, with dignity and respect for all. Being an American is not easy. It is hard. We are required to keep some serious promises. We are judged by a high standard, one We crafted for ourselves in the founding documents of the republic, the ones that talk about the equality of all people, the ones that tell us that government is of the people, by the people and for the people. We need to live by this, at home and abroad, and it is just about the only thing we can do to face the hatred of those who want to destroy us. Our best defense is to stay true to who we are. Our best defense is to refuse to live in fear, of them, of ourselves, of anyone." - Ignatieff.
ReplyDeleteAn awful lot of intimate and inclusive WE, OUR, and US in that speech in regards to being American. For years you guys made erroneous reference to Harper's connection to the US. Now the shoe is going to be on the other foot. Delicious irony.
anon
ReplyDeleteLOL. Be afraid.
"I know a lot of Conservatives are worried about him"
ReplyDeleteBob Fife Conservative Television
The question the Conservatives need to ask themselves today is the Liberal party a stronger party after tomorrow? The answer is yes, so it is doubtful Harper can be happy about today's news.
ReplyDeleteCan we all agree that the first order of business for Iggy is to kick that ass Jimmy K on his butt.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd second that demotion lib.
ReplyDeleteAnon:
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt we are stronger party today and we are coming to kick yo ass!
There is no doubt we are stronger party today and we are coming to kick yo ass!
ReplyDelete*Yawn* I've been hearing that since you chose your last leader after two elections ago. So crown King Iggy. Obviously you don't remember the results of the last Liberal coronation. I do. :D
Yo.....
Yo, you are comparing Iggy to Dion?
ReplyDeleteThis Bob Rae fan humbly accepts defeat. It was the best move for all, electability being the key.
ReplyDeleteIgnatieff will steal some PC votes away from the Cons, no doubt, and he'll massacre Harper in debates. They may not be worried about imminent threats but they know he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. At least the intelligent ones do (anonymous rabble rousers not included)
His biggest challenge will not be besting Conservatives on policy or politics but rather getting the LPC donation train going. If he can reverse your public/private revenue ratio, everything changes.
If I were him, I would take a year or so in Opposition to sell myself to potential donors. There will be much fodder from gov during 2009 to contrast against. The economic crisis will play into his hand. Then, once the party is revitalized and the economy is set to rebound, take down the gov and take credit.
I was pumped for the coalition but upon reflection I think it was the nerdy politico side of myself that just wanted to see something crazy happen. Ignatieff should end the coaltion talk now and distance himself from all things Dion. (even the Green Shift, regrettably)
Steve, can I expect to see you on team Ignatieff? Staff positions will be openning up soon...;)
Anon:
ReplyDeletePlus the process it not really the issue, a coronation and a full fledged leadership race like Montreal did not produce the right leader. And thats the point, its not the process but the result. Do we have the right leader this time, time will tell. I believe we do.
You know - the NDP supporters can moan and groan all they want - it is not about the coalition. It is about the Liberal leadership. Layton cannot be allowed to control the Liberals.
ReplyDeleteSo, we use the coalition IF NEED be.
I'm relieved and I know the Rae supporters won't like it - democratic stuff and all, but the Liberal delegates are to blame for this. They voted down OMOV at the last convention.
Dion was humiliated and although I'm not a Rae fan I wouldn't want him humiliated either. He doesn't deserve it, just like Dion didn't deserve.
Dion did not have enough supporters, just like Rae doesn't - and it was a backroom deal that got Dion in.
2 years have been wasted and if the race went on - another 6 months and it time to move on.
The delegates at the last convention disenfranchized the members their vote to not allow democracy with the OMOV.
So, now let's try to change that. I know so many people that felt their membership meant nothing and didn't renew or donate.
Now that we have the leadership outa the way the question becomes:
ReplyDelete1. Coalition?
2. Snap election?
3. Wait?
Ben
ReplyDeleteNo room for loose cannons ;)
So, we use the coalition IF NEED be.
ReplyDeleteThe other parties aren't going to wait around forever.
"The other parties aren't going to wait around forever."
ReplyDeleteWhere are they going to go? I guess they could form their own coaltion and ask the GG to give them Official Opposition status. I'm sure that would work out well. Or they could use their majority of unelected candidates to set up a sweet shadow government in Outremont!
The NDP are going to get lost in the shuffle. Expect more idle threats.
Okay Liberals, seriously, chill the fuck out.
ReplyDeleteIf you hate what happened here today, pause for a moment, go have a smoke, do some yoga, have sex, if you can't have sex, masturbate. Do whatever you do to relax. Then, if you are still mad, realize there is more reason than ever to be a Liberal. Renew your membership, donate to the party, and attend the conference where you can vote once again on a One Member, One Vote platform so this doesn't happen again.
Now that we have the leadership outa the way the question becomes:
ReplyDelete1. Coalition?
2. Snap election?
3. Wait?
Iggy was the right choice, even if it frightens you that I would agree with him as leader.
However, the coalition needs to beaten to the ground quickly. The damage may already be done, but persisting in it only adds to the ammunition in the next election, whenever it might be.
MI was smart enough to distance himself early, so I suspect the coalition of leftist stupidity will be dead in short order.