Bob Rae wants to talk about the future but remains stuck in the past.
Today was the leadership forum in Quebec city. What really surprised me is Bob Rae's position on the constitutional issue. In Quebec, Bob Rae has been repeating over and over that he is THE "friend of Quebec" (l'ami du Québec) because he has fought for the Meech Lake Accord in 1990 and Charlottetown in 1992. He says that despite the fact that he is surrounded by the same people that were advising Mr Chretien when he objected the Meech Lake Accord.
Today, he said that he would not reopen the Constitution to get Quebec to sign in and become "really" part of Canada. He said that he fought for Meech and Charlottetown and knows these fights are hard so he would not get into it anymore. Governing is about making tought choices, Bob. You are no longer supposed to be a dipper. Governing NDP-style is easy, you spend money whether or not you can afford it. It doesn't involve making any tough choices.
Michael Ignatieff has shown true leadership in saying he would tackle the fiscal imbalance issue and would find solutions while Stephane Dion and Scott Brison are still busy trying to argue that there is no fiscal imbalance. Michael Ignatieff has shown true leadership, like Bob Rae in 1990, by trying to finally get Quebec to sign the Constitution.
Bob Rae has shown that he was a man of the past; that he fought for national unity through the 90s but that he could no longer do it. Bob Rae is backed by the same old boys network that backed Chretien in 1990. Bob Rae's slogan should be the same as Chretien in 1990 : Welcome to the 1990s. Michael Ignatieff, while the same age as Mr. Rae, has the energy it takes to lead that country and fight the separatists and Harper.
Michael Ignatieff's campaign is a bunch of brilliant young people. They might not have the same experience that Bob Rae's team has but they have the energy, the passion, the conviction and the guts to win this leadership and defeat Harper in the next election. When Michael Ignatieff wins the leadership in December, he should reach out to the experienced guys from other campaigns and combine their experience with the energy of his young people.
On a funnier note. I was sitting a few seats away from Antonio at the debate. At some point, Bob Rae was on stage with the other leadership candidates when Antonio's phone rang. It was Bob Rae "personally" calling him to become a delegate. Is this like Rahim Jaffer and his impersonator ? Will the real Bob Rae please stand up ? The use of auto-dialers is really bad and annoys Liberal members, it's much better to rely on dedicated volunteers than machines that try to convince you into running as a delegate for Bob Rae.
Alex
Today, he said that he would not reopen the Constitution to get Quebec to sign in and become "really" part of Canada. He said that he fought for Meech and Charlottetown and knows these fights are hard so he would not get into it anymore. Governing is about making tought choices, Bob. You are no longer supposed to be a dipper. Governing NDP-style is easy, you spend money whether or not you can afford it. It doesn't involve making any tough choices.
Michael Ignatieff has shown true leadership in saying he would tackle the fiscal imbalance issue and would find solutions while Stephane Dion and Scott Brison are still busy trying to argue that there is no fiscal imbalance. Michael Ignatieff has shown true leadership, like Bob Rae in 1990, by trying to finally get Quebec to sign the Constitution.
Bob Rae has shown that he was a man of the past; that he fought for national unity through the 90s but that he could no longer do it. Bob Rae is backed by the same old boys network that backed Chretien in 1990. Bob Rae's slogan should be the same as Chretien in 1990 : Welcome to the 1990s. Michael Ignatieff, while the same age as Mr. Rae, has the energy it takes to lead that country and fight the separatists and Harper.
Michael Ignatieff's campaign is a bunch of brilliant young people. They might not have the same experience that Bob Rae's team has but they have the energy, the passion, the conviction and the guts to win this leadership and defeat Harper in the next election. When Michael Ignatieff wins the leadership in December, he should reach out to the experienced guys from other campaigns and combine their experience with the energy of his young people.
On a funnier note. I was sitting a few seats away from Antonio at the debate. At some point, Bob Rae was on stage with the other leadership candidates when Antonio's phone rang. It was Bob Rae "personally" calling him to become a delegate. Is this like Rahim Jaffer and his impersonator ? Will the real Bob Rae please stand up ? The use of auto-dialers is really bad and annoys Liberal members, it's much better to rely on dedicated volunteers than machines that try to convince you into running as a delegate for Bob Rae.
Alex
par / by Alex Plante à / at 10:42 a.m.
3 Commentaires:
Ok I'm back from Quebec and I will weigh in with a post later.
All the candidates talk about "oh its too hard" and "we might fail" well, what do we have to promise that is different than Stephen Harper?
Politics is about tough choices, yes. Bob Rae has made tough choices before.
HOWEVER, saying "it didnt work last time" is not a good enough excuse.
Bob Rae was willing to amend the constitution in 1992 when he negotiated Charlottetown, and this was already attempt number 2. 3 short years after meech, Bob was willing to give it another shot.
Now 15 years later, Bob says it is not worth it. What has changed Bob? At least answer that.
Stephane Dion says the constitution works fine no matter what Quebec says...WOW Stephane, thats a great way to throw it in the faces of soft nationalists who might vote YES next time because Canada refuses to negotiate a solution.
The tough choice is clear, get quebec in or face more referendums. I say take the candidate who says you can, not the ones who say you cannot.
Grit Heart, a PQ government will call another referendum and say the federal government has done nothing to accomodate Quebec, and we will go down that path again.
By saying no to trying again, you are ASKING for the referendum. I saw the misery caused by th 95 referendum, at 13 it is what inspired me to join politics.
Charest is on the record saying he wants constitutional talks if he gets a second mandate
check your facts before speaking for others
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