[CommanderSock]

$1:

Go look in the mirror first though.


Iggy's definately right of the Liberal average and it will be interesting to see if he can sway the party over. If he can, the Liberals would look better and would be more competition for Harper.

What I'm finding funny are you brand loyal customers who are lining up to berate me. We're looking at the Libs move from left to right and none of you are bitching about that because the Libs are not guided by ideology but only a desperate need for power and control. Left, right.. whatever, as long as it gets them closer to the money.

Not necessarily. The liberals have tended to be strictly fiscally conservative, and socially liberal. That is a good combination. It’s difficult to find fiscally conservative parties that aren’t propped up by bible bashing evangelical establishments. The liberals resemble a tepid European right wing party, but support immigration.

[bootlegga]

ridenrain ridenrain:

As a Reformer, I find you're comments silly.

To make it clear, parties that have an idological direction, for the most part, can be relied to move in that direction. The Liberals do not have any underlying ideology and simply exist to float between the CPC and the NDP. I don't like wishy washy parties because you never can predict what they will do. I would rather see a coalition between the NDP and the CPC than a Liberal government.

You might see it as wishy-washy, but the majority of Canadians seem to think it's mainstream, while your "ideological direction" is seen by many as fundamentalist or dogmatic (take your pick).

There's a reason why the Liberals have run the country for longer than the PCs/Conservatives. In the recent past, when the PCs moved to the centre, they ran the country. That's probably why Harper hasn't ever gotten a majority, because he's seen as leaning too far in one direction (same goes the NDP). Both parties will likely always have hard core supporters, but to win a majority in this country you have to at least appear in the centre.

[EyeBrock]

Yogi Yogi:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I think an NDP-Liberal merge may have have been a distinc possibility under Rae.
On the other hand I think Iggy will move the Libs back from the socialist abyss and get them in the centre or even centre right.

Iggy is a threat to Harper's CPC. They have a fight on at last. This will be interesting.

This can only hasten Harper's decline in the CPC and with the electorate.

Seriously. Who would you like to see replace Harper? I can't think of anyone who could do a 'better' job of it. Tyhat is not to say that I don't think the CPC could/should be better run, but I just don't think that there is a single MP who could do any better!

Yogi, I'm at a loss of who I'd pick to replace Harper.

If Harper learns from this, he will get my vote.
I was not impressed with his campaign during the election.
He made several silly mis-steps which cost him a majority. The after the election he got worse.
The whole 'party subsidy' thing and the 'no strike clause for civil servants' said to me he has surrounded himself with 'yes' men and women. Never good.

All good leaders should listen to diverse counsel or risk being marginalised. Harper needs to start asking the guys in his caucus who don’t agree with him their opinions.

[poquas]

How will we ever know who's capable of replacing Harper. He has such tight control over what his ministers say it's just more of "him". The whole party is acting the same way. The "don't let the public know what we're really about" that the party has adopted since calling themselves Conservative.

Harper doesn't get it.

The party doesn't get it.

[Gunnair]

ridenrain ridenrain:

Any leader you want, as long as it's the one we selected for you.
Great leader selection process. Looks like something out of the USSR.

Actually, it's a sign that the Liberal Party is emerging from its politcal torpor. I thought it was a rather mature move by Rae to (though he'll still bitch about it) to put the needs of the party before himself (and his carload of political baggage).