Categories: Capital Read, Inside the Queensway

UPDATED: And then there were two …

by kadyomalley on Sunday, December 7, 2008 6:41pm - 47 Comments

According to CTV (and via the incomparable NNW), Dominic LeBlanc may be out of the race.

UPDATE: Canadian Press has more about what may happen next — and it’s good news for fans of  the one-member-one-vote system!

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  • http://tigerathome.wordpress.com The Tiger

    Nicely done, Ignatieff.

    May I second Mr. Mitchell’s advice — especially the account of the hunt up at Balmoral.

  • archangel

    And for all Harperologists I recommend Ubik by Philip K. Dick — reality in a spray can.

  • mutti

    Too funny. If the Conservative Party ‘chose’ a leader without due democratic process, the Liberals would blow a gasket ….

  • http://unambig.blogspot.com Raphael Alexander

    Mutti,

    The point is that it wasn’t the Conservatives. And that’s always the only point worth considering. Next question.

    Seriously though, does it get any more ironic than this? A coalition screaming about democracy and 62% majority whose leader will quite possibly be appointed.

  • http://tigerathome.wordpress.com The Tiger

    Oh, the heck with that. I’m just admiring the man’s tradecraft.

    He just rolled Bob Rae — getting him onside for moving up the process, then doubling back, securing the interim leadership, and turning it into a coronation.

    Artfully done. Had he been in charge of the Coalition’s movements, I think he might be PM right now.

  • mutti

    Sounds like something Harper could have orchestrated ….

  • Gabe

    Jack Mitchell – Dec 7, 2008 21:23
    Maybe the Count will be acclaimed and accept a serious Leadership Review within some decent interval.

    ———————————————————————————————————————

    That’s an excellent idea. It would dispel any notion that Ignatieff hijacked the process if his review is favourable. And if not, then time for a new leadership race, but all in good time, not rushed by events unfolding as quickly as they are right now.

  • David

    On a completely different topic…what happened to the ‘massive media blitz to condemn the coalition’ that Harper’s propaganda machine was gloating about airing this weekend, before the chat with the GG?

    It’s postponed to January, when the new schedule for Harper’s execution makes for better timing, and cheaper ad rates.

  • SJ

    I don’t even care. The stupid liberals need to just get rid of Dion and get someone else in there. Someone who can’t be stepped over so easily with the help from the inside.

    I liked Dion, I liked his ideas and his honesty. I don’t think he deserves ANY of what he is getting, and personally think he would have made a great PM. But with his own party killing him slowly, and the con wasting MILLIONS tarnishing him… There is simply one option: DION OUT NOW.

    Get these god damn cons out of parliament NOW. The only way to start that process is to drop Dion and get either Rae or Iggy in. So just DO IT. Hopefully once that is done, this PATHETIC infighting will be put to rest and they can concentrate on LEADING this country and not WAITING for others to act so we can tag along (eg. cons and waiting for the US to do something).

  • Gabe

    David – Dec 7, 2008 22:05
    It’s postponed to January, when the new schedule for Harper’s execution makes for better timing, and cheaper ad rates.

    ——————————————————————————————————————————————–
    Never thought of that..*snerk*.

    I’m almost beginning to look forward to the House getting back if the Libs have finally resolved the leadership thing. It should be good entertainment to watch Harper squirming and dodging about why he had to lock everybody out DURING AN ECONOMIC CRISIS (sorry, didn’t mean to shout).

  • Steve Wart

    It’s striking that some people are so desperate to get rid of Harper they’re willing to risk alienating the entire membership of the Liberal party by anointing a successor to Dion without following their own party’s traditions of due process.

    The downside of course is a Conservative majority, and the risk is high.

    But it seems the party is indeed hell-bent on forcing an election as soon as Harper tables his economic plan.

    He has to be hoping they’ll do this. It will be amazing if their catatonic rage causes them to walk into this obvious trap with their eyes wide open.

    The alternative is to pass the legislation they already agreed to. This is so fun. I can’t wait for Christmas to be over.

  • B from BC

    It does not mater who the liberals chose for leader, the Tories probably already have adds in the bank for Iggy or Rae, by the time the 26th rolls around they will be just a damaged as Dion!

  • Jean Proulx

    I am pitching the idea below on facebook and various Liberal blogs. What do you guys think?

    ——————

    A Way Forward on Leadership for the LPC by Jean Proulx

    We are facing an extraordinary moment in the life of our party and country. Such moments require creative thinking and the putting aside of petty factional interests for the greater good.

    The Liberal party of Canada is facing a leadership crisis at the precise moment when it most needs leadership, not only for itself but also for this larger anti-Harper coalition movement which, I believe, represents a potential tectonic shift in Canadian politics. It is a rare window of opportunity which we cannot miss.

    I have been very discreet about my own personal preferences regarding leadership. I frankly do not care who the leader is as long as he can unite the party, improve our organization and fundraising, and successfully lead this coalition against Harper. Rae, Ignatieff and Leblanc all have their attractive qualities. Dion, despite all the criticism he has faced this past week, will always have my respect because of his inherent decency and the past service he has given to the country and to the LPC.

    Here is what I think needs to happen now. I think the four men in question need to reach some kind of amicable agreement about who will be leader, some kind of deal that would be acceptable to all of them, and that they then present it to the party membership for official ratification; either in May in Vancouver or by an expedited one member-one vote phone-in system sooner. Yes, a dreaded coronation. Normally I would oppose such a thing on principle but the circumstances are so extraordinary in this case that I think it is the way to go.

    Personally I think the route that might lead to the greatest electoral success and the most party unity might be to have Ignatieff take the leadership initially for a pre-determined amount of time with Rae acting as his Deputy Leader (or a role of his choosing) and an important role given to Leblanc (who is young enough that he can seek the leadership again later). Ignatieff would then step aside after this pre-determined amount of time and switch roles with Rae. Essentially though they would be co-leaders. I think that way most of their supporters would be reasonably happy and we could have peace. The only reason I have suggested that Ignatieff be given the chance to lead first is because he appears to have more caucus support at this time according to reports and because he probably holds greater appeal to centrist voters and Ontario voters – whether rightly or wrongly – than Mr. Rae. And we need that support at this moment.

  • Jean Proulx

    I have to say in passing that I think this whole issue of leadership is, to a certain extent, a red herring. Given the current balance of power the entire party MUST be on the same page. If either Mr. Rae, Mr. Ignatieff or Mr. Leblanc were to leave the party and take his supporters with him then the leadership of the Liberal Party will lose any value it has anyway, Harper wins and Canada loses. So essentially they all have a veto over each other in any event.

    In addition to what I have outlined above they would all have to agree to strongly support the coalition and to let Jack Layton play a very important role in any coalition government. Let Mr. Layton be the one to cut and run if the polls get too scary for him. He has also taken a great political risk by supporting this coalition. He deserves a chance to let the country see what he is really made of. Every single member of the Liberal caucus is on record as supporting the coalition. We are committed to it now. As we should be. It is both a question of honour AND it is the best political move we can make given the circumstances. This is a moment to have confidence we are doing the right thing for the country, polls be damned.

    If we can become united here, not only the different factions within the LPC but the entire centre-left, and govern well then I believe we will be rewarded in due time with strong public support. This will be very challenging given the economic circumstances we face, but I have no doubt we could can govern better than Harper, that we can govern for the good of the entire country and not in way which encourages divisions between people and regions, which is the real issue.

    UPDATE: Dominic Leblanc has apparently just announced he is quitting the leadership race. I am not sure how that should impact what I have proposed above. I do think he built a significant amount of grassroots support in a short period of time and is a talented politician. He should play a leading role in the party going forward.

  • http://deleted Sandi

    Well, why the expense of a leadership race when everyone already knows the two and have made their own decisions about it.

    If Dion has stepped down right away time may not have been so important – they would have had an interim leader and the race could go on. But, Dion staying on has made the situation urgent – just in case Harper calls an election.

  • http://www.woecanada.com don

    can this impasse ever be solved as long as the non national bloc is counted toward the seats needed for a majority. only national parties with candidates in a majority of provinces with even a slim possibility of forming a Canadian govt, should be considered.- the bloc can left as a spectator as a sop to Quebec -they will still be a parasite on the Canadian taxpayer but their presence and votes should have no effect on any legislation. or counted toward forming a majority parliament.else canada will never have a majority Canadian parliament

  • Jean Proulx

    don – The BQ is only a strategic and tactical partner for the time being. They would not be part of the coalition govt but have simply pledged not to vote against it in matters of confidence. Long-term I do not see the Bloc remaining allied in any meaningful way with the Liberals and NDP. Liberals and NDPers are federalists first, and partisans second.

    In fact I can see the Bloc just as easily swinging back into the axis of Mr. Harper although it would be difficult for him to take advantage of that given his disgraceful behaviour this week wouldn’t it?

  • Steve W

    After the fiasco with the video I can’t imagine that the Liberals can muster the technical and organisational competence to pull off Rae’s plan. Ignatieff’s pragmatic ambivalence seems much more likely to carry the day. The question remains: will the Liberals and their new-found NDP membership tolerate such a blatant rejection of moral principle?

  • Jack Mitchell

    Steve W — How is it more immoral than requiring candidates to pay $90 000 to enter the race?

  • dan in van

    Steve W – moral principle? Didn’t you know Harper outlawed that when he made mob rule a justifiable response to an election result?

  • Justin

    Rae’s proposal is against the LPC constitution. At the 2006 convention, the grassroots rejected OMOV and decided to keep the convention process. Rae should know that. He was there.

  • keith by the Bruce

    All politicians share in the blame for this mess . For the last 40 years M.P.s sat on their hands and allowed the party machine & PMO to become all powerfull . Now the deals for Cabinet seats , jobs for their backroom etc . are not part of this rush to decision ?

    ndp economic policies are nutbar , cons are already run by a petty dictator bunch . Thanks iggy backroom boys for removing the value of individual choice . Can’t pin the 3 year whisper campaign on you but this move to executive power is pretty clear . Wield the 2,000 person PMO like past P.M.s iggy .

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