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Monday, October 23, 2006
Care to Venture a Guess?
According to Bob Rae;
"Mr. Rae has said that will not run in this by-election......as he will be focussing on the leadership race at hand. He will seek to run in the next election as a Liberal candidate either way."
In politics, there are two reasons for everything; The reason that sounds good, and the real reason.
What do you suppose the real reason is that Bob Rae isn't running in London?
Posted by Mike The Greek on October 23, 2006 | Permalink
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Comments
If he loses the by election, he will be further soiled goods?
Just a thought.
Isn't Ontario poison to him?
Just another thought.
Posted by: Duke | 2006-10-23 1:54:43 PM
Greek:
Run, Bob, run.
Posted by: Set you free | 2006-10-23 2:05:51 PM
My guestimate is that he wants to save his loss for the real, meal, deal, and wager that the more time he has between his political history, and the next complete election, the less likely voters will be to remember his failures alonside his name, and connect the dots. Meanwhile, he would be able to depend upon support from other associations, and maybe, if the polls says so (we know how liberals looooove he polls) he would have a better chance than the current situation, where conservatives are rather popular.
Thing is, by holding back, he awaits the next election, which could be at any time, in the next two years. That way he can play more golf, and be fresh for that election, without drying up his volunteer support, through a by-election faillure. Plus, when he does loose in the next election, there will be lots of other Liberal failures as well, meaning he would not be the only one, taking the blame and fall at the same time, as ther would be all those other Liberal loosers!
Posted by: Lady | 2006-10-23 2:25:35 PM
If Former Ontario Premier Rae does not win the Liberal Party of Canada's Leadership he will not run in any future Federal Election. If Ignatieff fails to secure the Leadership he will walk away from Canadian politics, and resign his Federal Toronto
Seat. The feeling in this more or less depressed area of Canada is that Stephen Harper will be PM of our country for a minimum of Five years, and probably longer. as predicted the Afghnistan adventure is the focus of the MSM and is getting
particularly nasty, no surprise to me. But Harper will need his Government and Party completly loyal to him and his concept of goverment which is welcome after years of Martin, Chretien and flunkies. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2006-10-23 2:47:11 PM
As a CP supporter I do not want Rae running in the Byelection.
I want him as party leader in the next federal election.
Seeing him defeated in London would be like eating dessert first. I want to see the LP devoured by an Ontario populace angry that they would try and foist this piece of political toxic waste on them as a candidate for Prime Minister.
Posted by: Gord Tulk | 2006-10-23 4:10:59 PM
Jack....you nailed it.
Mr.Rae wants to be prime minister,not a liberal foot soldier.
As for your other comments,I hope we don't have to deal with a lib government for a while...I wish more Canadians supported the current tories though...if they had thirteen years in power maybe hardcore partisan types could understand abuse of power,corruption and arrogance are not strictly liberal traits but lie in the hearts of many politicians....remember Mulroney?His arrogance and unapologetic lining of the trough with tory friends is what got me motivated to vote for the first time.As a matter of fact,since then I have yet to give a vote to any incumbent party.We have not had a government in this country(in the past 20 yrs)worth rewarding with another term,IMO.Our expectations of our governments are set far,far too low....Depressing,actually.
Posted by: Canadian Observer | 2006-10-23 4:12:09 PM
Easy to hijack the Liberal Party. Both Chretien and Martin did it. Meanwhile, the Post Toronto today reports the Liberal Executive "pleaded with Harper not to call By Elections" how sad. I hate it when they beg. Be good news for PM Harper if Kennedy gets the nod for the London seat. But the Liberal MP there quit over the issue of same sex marriage, which has not been forgotten. I just watched Taber with Thompson and Galloway on CTV' s Ottawa Gossip site. Jeez, "The Witches of Eastwick" But it seems to me that so many people are annoyed with CTV, it is having a positive effect on PM Harper's Government. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2006-10-23 4:25:20 PM
CO:
Agreed about Mulroney's arrogance.
It's exactly that type of attitide that got the Reform Party going.
Jack:
You've also noticed that the MSM's attempts to gain revenge over PMSH's oh-so-awful cage-rattling about who can ask him questions are now backfiring.
Tsk, tsk. Too bad, so sad.
When's the byelections? 35 days. Can hardly wait.
Posted by: Set you free | 2006-10-23 5:50:54 PM
Jack: I think Harper has a very good reason for calling these By's.
Twit Taber is more than I can take at the dinner hour.
Sounds like the London riding has conflicting views with the Liberals.
Same sex marriage is an issue and they dissed a Gay Pride EXHIBITION.
Could the Liberals be worried the Londoners will change their colours?
Posted by: Liz J | 2006-10-23 5:56:35 PM
"Uncle Mo" told him not to! Paul Martin belongs to Maurice Strong, Bob Rae belongs to Maurice Strong, and that's why there's the Liberal "Anyone but Iggy" campaign. Or am I just having a nasty "conspiracy theory" moment?
Posted by: Lindsay | 2006-10-23 6:02:11 PM
It's taking a long time for Maurice,(Bob's Uncle Moe), to find out the price of tea in China.
Posted by: Liz J | 2006-10-23 7:02:21 PM
bobby run in ontario, right, the bloc head leader has a better chance of winning here
Posted by: john a. | 2006-10-23 8:38:08 PM
I'm not sure about how confident we should be regarding the CPC's chances in London. I grew up there and, while it used to be a good small-c conservative city, it's increasingly liberal/soft-socialist. They have an NDP MP in London-Fanshawe in the person of Irene Mathyssen (an old high-school teacher of mine, BTW) and a very left-Liberal MPP in London-West in the person of Chris Bentley. Also in London-West, Sue Barnes (whose accomplishments in Parliament are decidedly underwhelming) wins re-election after re-election, without any serious worry.
In London North Centre - the riding in question - Joe Fontana handily held that seat for 5 re-elections. The only reason he left was to run for mayor - a task at which he probably will probably succeed.
No, I would say that the Liberals could nominate a proverbial ham sandwich and still be the odds-on favorites.
Londoners are fairly apathetic. The only way the CPC can win this one is to take it in a country-wide landslide. Then, they can do their best to retain it going forward.
Posted by: Cooker | 2006-10-23 10:45:05 PM
Our Group of Companies had offices in London when Premier Robarts was their MLA - it was a solid Conservative town then, hopefully will be again.
Fontana objected to SSM and quit. Watch for Elizabeth May to run for the Greens there, but I must say PM Harper's decision to call By Elections was a very shrewd political decision. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2006-10-24 5:39:30 AM
Socialists aren't much interested in the whole "democracy" thing.
Posted by: NCF TO | 2006-10-24 7:04:56 AM
Warren Kinsella's Site today lists all the Liberal
MP's, Senators, MLA's Hangars On and Flunkies who have indicated support for various Liberal Leadership Candidates: interesting to me is that the
Martin crowd are supporting Dion,and the Chretien's
supporting Rae, the Ignatieff supporters are a mixture over the entire spectrum. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2006-10-24 7:07:21 AM
Warren Kinsella's Site today lists all the Liberal
MP's, Senators, MLA's Hangars On and Flunkies who have indicated support for various Liberal Leadership Candidates: interesting to me is that the
Martin crowd are supporting Dion,and the Chretien's
supporting Rae, the Ignatieff supporters are a mixture over the entire spectrum. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2006-10-24 7:09:51 AM
I think this former-mayor(sorry, I have forgotten her name) is the best chance for the Conservatives to win in this area. The inclusion of Elizabeth May will also create a small vote split to the Left. But, the overall strategy implications are amazing with this by-election. Think of the possibilities.
If Rae runs and loses, the leadership is lost. If he runs and wins, but loses the leadership he has to be a footsoldier(he would be none too happy).
Kennedy runs and wins his value for the convention is up, but only as a king-maker. If he loses, he will sit at the kiddie table with Dryden and Brison.
Elizabeth May will lose and if her numbers are dismal, her people will start contemplating leadership change...again! If she does well and still loses their will be big talk of the effects of vote splitting and strategic voting. AKA the Green Party will take another one for the team(NDP and Liberals).
Everone knows that this is the best chance for the Conservatives to win so if they lose, there will be a headline or two, but it will die quickly because of voter history. If the Conservative Party wins then break out the bubbly because the MSM will have to explain how a strong Liberal riding changes even though the polls(horribly inaccurate) show a drop in support.
Break out the popcorn and while your at it raise a glass in honour of our PM, who has made Politics not only interesting, but a thinking-persons game.
Posted by: DarrenL | 2006-10-24 7:37:57 AM
If the London riding stays with the Liberals we know it's pure thoughtless politics with no idea or even awareness of the bigger concern for this Country.
Given the sickening mess and trail of sleaze left by the too-long-in-power band of Liberals with bogus entitlements it should be a Conservative landslide.
If the former Mayor of that City is still remembered as she was when she got her landslide victory for that position she will be a good rep for the Conservatives.
Posted by: Liz J | 2006-10-24 8:58:53 AM
Karol:
Some people allow themselves to be emotionally manipulated as a deliberate escape hatch for something they want to crap out of.
The Wynne "person", married with children sure must have gone to the bowels of her pscyche to decide at 37 she was attracted to her own sex.
If that isn't bu**s**t don't know what is.
The feminista movement is alive and well and cashing in on the vulnerable and those looking for opportunities to further some agenda, be it political or personal.
Posted by: Liz J | 2006-10-24 11:03:24 AM
I heard a political commentator on Newman's program assessing the London bi election. It sounds like the riding is a Fontana riding and not necessarily a Liberal riding if you get my drift. He indicated Haskett who is running as a Conservative candidate there is a popular former mayor of London. While that does not mean a particular riding will go for her the commentator indicated she will be a formidable candidate. The Liberals have no one as yet and the one trick pony, Elizabeth May, of the Green party will not get elected. Have not heard who the NDP is going to put up. However, the riding has a good chance of going Tory. Wouldn't that look good on the Liberals and the NDP? We can always hope that the people in that particular riding have some common sense.
Posted by: hollinm | 2006-10-24 3:12:38 PM
If the Liberals weren't worried about the London riding why are they protesting Harper calling the By's? Even the Quebec Riding could surprise.
Those ridings are up for grabs and they know it. Harper knows it too. Another smart move on his part to get the people in those ridings representation.
There are signs of some very Conservative views in London riding also. Gay pride parades and same -sex marriage are not on. Ask Joe Fontana.
Posted by: Liz J | 2006-10-25 9:00:43 AM
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