Unquote

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

- Stephen Harper, September 9, 2004

Open Letter to the National Geographic Channel

Dear National Geographic Channel,

Enough with the Dog Whisperer.


Sincerely,
Me.

One Member One Vote

I support the resolution to elect Liberal leaders by a one member one vote system. It's fair and democratic.

Liberals who do so as well are encouraged to join the Liberals for One Member One Vote Leader selection Facebook group, or follow the blog, One Member, One Vote.

Unquote

The weak fiscal performance to date is largely attributable to previous policy decisions [of the current Conservative government] as opposed to weakened economic conditions.
- Kevin Page, Canadian Parliamentary budget officer

[H/T, Far and Wide]

Bob Rae Launches Leadership Bid

While I have indicated that I will be supporting Michael Ignatieff for leader of the Liberal Party, I will not be using this blog to attack the other Liberal leadership candidates during the race.

Case in point, I would like to point out a great comment on the CBC news article announcing Bob Rae's official bid launch.

Unfortunately, it seems that Bob Rae has allowed history to be rewritten about his record in unflattering and inaccurate terms. Unless he can turn that demonization around during this next leadership bid, he may prove to be the best candidate for the job, but incapable of delivering Ontario (and a government) for the Liberals.

It's ironic that some of Mike Harris' most incompetent cabinet ministers are now in charge of our federal government, but any goodwill that Bob Rae might have earned as Ontario premier is entirely dismissed.

I won't say that I was necessarily the biggest fan of Mr. Rae's tenure as Premier, but Liberals must remember the above comment at every opportunity, regardless of the candidate they support. If the basis of your support is on how Ontario will react to a Bob Rae Liberal leadership, then how did these three get elected twice?

It will be incumbent on Liberals and Team Bob Rae to prepare for the inevitable attacks should Mr. Rae win; we can begin right now.

When debating who would be best to lead Canada as a Liberal Prime Minister, it should be on the merit of their ideas for the future.

I Support Michael Ignatieff

I support Michael Ignatieff as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

This is an exciting time to be a new Liberal and I look forward to working toward a Michael Ignatieff leadership victory.

This will be my first Liberal leadership campaign and I plan on working hard, if they'll have me.

Three Posts in One Month

I get the feeling that I'm not a very good blogger. I must be breaking some kind of blogging etiquette rules somewhere.

Thoughts on Liberal 308

I stumbled upon a good article by CBC correspondent Henry Champ - I think he's semi-retired now, after being the CBC's Washington correspondent.

The title of the piece sums it up nicely - If Obama wins, thank Howard Dean. More precisely, Mr. Champ argues that Barack Obama's success is, in some way, due in part to Mr. Obama's execution of Howard Dean's fifty-state strategy.

This commentary is especially important for those of us who support Liberal 308.

Mr. Champ argues that Barack Obama created a base of Democratic support in non-Democratic areas while Hilary Clinton concentrated in Democrat-favoured areas. Democrat supporters in red states felt a part of the Democratic Party and contributed to Barack Obama.

It's easy to make the strategic comparison here. Creating 308 visible Liberal riding associations is, in my mind, the most important step. Those visible riding associations means Liberal support even in Conservative or NDP-held areas. That support translates into volunteers and financial contributions.

You build that support, you build the party. You build the party, you win elections.

That's renewal.