We'll have a narrow field of solid choices -- and this might lead to an early election because once the Prime Minister sees a very strong Liberal leader he might consider whether it will be better now or later... .
Juliet O'Neill, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA - Michael Ignatieff plans to announce his candidacy for the Liberal leadership late Thursday morning in Ottawa, setting up a rematch with Bob Rae, who came second to him in early ballots during the 2006 race. The two Toronto MPs and lifelong friends, now leadership rivals, are in a so-far small field of candidates seeking to replace Stéphane Dion. The only other declared candidate is New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc, son of a former governor general. While MPs Martha Hall Findlay and Denis Coderre decided this week not to throw their hats in the ring, Liberals await decisions by MPs Gerard Kennedy, David McGuinty and Ruby Dhalla.
10 comments:
Kennedy announced yesterday that he would NOT run.
www.nextface.blogspot.com
The Premier of Ontario is still considering jumping in. His brother declined, but Dalton is mulling it over...
There is an Obama-like excitement building. MI will unify the party, and take Canada to the next level. Just good stuff all around!!
Anonymous 10:59:
I agree there is a growing excitement. I am seeing lots of Liberals coming back to get involved who have taken the last couple of rounds off, not all for Michael which is fine, though mostly for Michael.
But let's not try to spoil that homegrown excitement and renewal by comparing it to Obama. Obama is needed for what ails the US right now. Any comparisons will not help the Liberals here I think.
Ted, I couldn't disagree more. Ignatieff brings many of the same elements of change that Obama does for the U.S. The excitement for his candidacy is real. In very little time Canadians will feel like they are reliving history, with Harper playing Bush, and Ignatieff playing a more experienced version of Obama.
That may be and I agree that there is that excitement for him that is there in a way it wasn't two years ago.
I'm just saying that everyone is trying to latch on to the Obama thing - from Layton to Harper to British Tory Cameron - and I think for Ignatieff to win the leadership and the PM's office, we have to be a bit careful about riding Obama's coattails too much. By the time an election comes around, President Obama will be something else and we need our own reasons here in Canada to keep supporting Michael and the Liberals. That's all.
Ted, fair enough. Then I would describe it as Trudeaumania on steroids. The positive energy coming from this announcement is remarkable.
I love that! Trudeaumania on Steriods! Good one, Fellow Anonymous!
Ignatieff is Obama, no he's Trudeau, wait I'll go one better he's jesus. I can't believe Jesus is gonna be the leader. Wow now I'm excited. Get your head out of your butt. Ignatieff anounced his intentions and a nation yawned. This campaigning by his pathetic bunch of supporters has reached the tip of hilarity. Oh yes the people are singing in the streets and chanting Micheal, Micheal. I predict a landslide victory and coronation followed by decades of peace and prosperity. Those of us in the real world can only shake our heads. I've said it before but I will say it again for the record. PRO TORTURE, PRO IRAQ, PRO AFGHANISTAN, PRO FREIDMAN ECONOMICS. HASN'T LIVED IN THE COUNTRY HE WANTS TO GOVERN FOR THIRTY YEARS. Anyone who thinks Micheal Ignatieff should run the country should never stop slapping themselves.
MilitantLiberal:
That's a little over the top. He's only going to give us a decade of prosperity, not decades.
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