We must not waste our energy on internal struggles -- we have bigger adversaries and that which we have in common greatly outweighs our differences with the Conservatives.
All this means we need a Leader who is strong and unites the Party.
JANE TABER
From Monday's Globe and Mail
Stéphane Dion is not acting like a man easily accepting his defeat as he is expected to announce today that he will step down as Liberal leader. He has been in seclusion at Stornoway, his official residence in Ottawa, for nearly a week now. And while he began to reach out on the weekend to some MPs defeated in last Tuesday's election, he doesn't appear to have been in a rush to contact some one of his most senior caucus officials. That included, as of Saturday morning, Whip Karen Redman, who lost in her Kitchener, Ont., riding. And for at least three days after Tuesday's result, Mr. Dion had not spoken to his closest rivals, Toronto Centre MP Bob Rae and deputy leader Michael Ignatieff.
Mr. Rae would not comment yesterday as to whether he has yet spoken to Mr. Dion. Over the weekend, Mr. Dion told one defeated candidate to "stay strong and trim and be ready," surmising that the budget that the Harper Conservatives deliver in February "is going to be a mess." The Harper Tories were held to a minority government last Tuesday and a budget vote is a confidence matter that could bring down the government.
"He didn't sound like someone who is leaving," a senior Liberal source said.
A long-time Liberal who spoke to him yesterday said he is struggling with his decision as some people are telling him to stay on until May. He's calling more people now and he is "is really trying to do the right thing." He was emotional during the call.
His chief of staff, Johanne Senecal, is said by sources to be guarding his privacy and access closely.
Although there is not a protocol for how a leader reacts to a defeat, some Liberals say it is unusual that he has taken so long to talk to his supporters.
"I don't know if he is lacking in grace or in political aptitude," said a former Dion strategist, who has witnessed his funks and emotional highs and lows. "He often takes a day or two to get out of them."
Mr. Dion has scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. today. It is widely expected that he will step aside as leader but there is still a view among some Liberals that he may stay on as leader until a leadership convention, which will likely be held in May.
"There are those who feel that Mr. Dion deserves to stay on as leader until the May convention, which will obviously be a leadership convention," said a strategist who travelled with him during the campaign. "A number feel since he won the leadership fair and square he should be allowed to leave with dignity at the convention."
Another Liberal said that those who want him to stay "can't fill a small automobile."
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
1 comment:
We need to stop having leadership conventions. The stupidest possible thing for us to do is have Stephane step down. We need him to stay. If he leaves there will be a Conservative majority in one year. Guarenteed. He needs to stay.
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