Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW
He also offers his thoughtful perspective of Stephen Harper’s last 10 years in his recent eBook, The Harper Decade.

Categories: Capital Read, Inkless Wells

Denis Coderre: Classy

by Paul Wells on Monday, September 28, 2009 11:18am - 90 Comments

“What I find disappointing is that we’re washing our dirty laundry in public”

— Denis Coderre, during a nationally televised news conference announcing his resignation as Michael Ignatieff’s Quebec lieutenant

Tags: deafness to irony, denis coderre

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Bill D, Cat

Sweet , sweet irony .

http://intensedebate.com/people/LoyalSubject LoyalSubject

Who said anything about ironing?

http://intensedebate.com/people/tigerinexil1428 tigerinexile

Knew it had to come, after the reversal.

But yes, the irony is delicious.

Canadian politics is so much fun right now…
Smith

This was the main reason Iggy wanted an election.: to get everyone to focus on a common enemy. They are so messed up.

http://intensedebate.com/people/HarveyMushman HarveyMushman

Little did he Iggy suspect that the "common enemy" would be him.

Riley Hennessey

On what basis did Coderre ever think he could be leader? Does he has some grand accomplishment none of us know about?

KOL

Does Harper?

wilson

For starters, Harper has been in politics since 1984, united the right after 13 years in the wilderness, and replaced the Martin government (which was supposed to win the largest majority in Cdn history).
And is now in the history books for governing over the longest running minority parliament in Canadian history.
for starters….
http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

What's that Paul Wells quote of Harper, that seems to get more and more relevant and true: "The longer I am Prime MInister, the longer I will be Prime Minister." Or something like that. It is a shame for the country that the opposition wants to keep looking so scary. Even if Harper wins the next election, a victory against opponents in obvious disarray is a hollow victory for the country.

Lord Kitchener's Own

I think it's actually just "The longer I'm Prime Minister, the longer I'm Prime Minister", which is an excellent point.

Canuckistanian

"Does Harper?"

no, but he is vastly more qualified, despite his limited accomplishments, than Coderre.

Loraine Lamontagne

What do you mean by 'vastly' more qualified?

Coderre (b 1963) is a political science graduate of U de Montreal – got an MBA from U of Ottawa. He ran for the first time in 1988 and has been 'in political circles' ever since.

Harper (b 1959) is a drop out from U of Toronto, has a master from U of Calgary in economics, a displine he has never practised. Instead, he became the Reform Party's Chief Policy Officer and he played a major role in drafting the 1988 election platform, according to wiki.

I just don't see why Harper would be more qualified than Coderre. They're equals – two politicos who have nothing more to offer than a lifetime a small-time, cheap, opportunistic and highly inflammatory political rhethoric to offer.

http://www.calgarygrit.ca Calgary Grit

Ha!

Furthermore:

Mr. Coderre said Mr. Ignatieff needs changes to his inner circle. He said you can't run politics in Quebec from Toronto – a shot at the coterie of Toronto strategists around the Liberal Leader.

herringchoker

I thought he did that when he shipped Paul Zed back to New Brunswick.
NonCalgary NonGrit

"He said you can't run politics in Quebec from Toronto" …

No, no, mustn't do it that way: the point is to run Ontario politics from Montreal after all …

http://nottawa.blogspot.com Mark

Irony aside, I'd be curious to know what Coderre means by 'dirty laundry'. Must be those people in Outremont who said they wanted to actually vote on who their candidate would be. Imagine – democratic expression happening in public. If this disappoints Mr. Coderre, then maybe he's in the wrong line of work.

http://intensedebate.com/people/HarveyMushman HarveyMushman

"I'd be curious to know what Coderre means by 'dirty laundry.'

Most likely the rather unsightly stain of people like Coderre and Cauchon jockeying to be the next Liberal leader from Quebec.

After all…it is their "turn" right? And like siblings fighting over the X-Box controller…they want their turn NOW!
herringchoker

Well voting to choose the candidate in Outremont certainly would be novel. M. Couchon was appointed to run in 1993 and never had to contest a nomination for the next eleven years.

Wascally Wabbit

I'm delighted. Not so much in whether Mr. Coderre remains or stays – but it reveals that Mr. Ignatieff is open to input from all parts of the party – that he can make tough decisions – in the best interest of the party – and ultimately Canada – and the party will be more united going forward as a result.
Which incidentally contrasts with the postures of both Mr. Layton and now Mr. Mulcair – both of whom should have tested the broader wind than their own special interests – before deciding which way to face while urinating….

Calgay Junkie

I'll give you an A+ for trying to spin the un-spinable.
http://intensedebate.com/people/HarveyMushman HarveyMushman

"…he can make tough decisions."

I agree.

It is tough to make the tough decision to reverse the tough decision you already made.

http://intensedebate.com/people/YYZ YYZ

Actually, it is, and it doesn't happen enough.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

One thing is certain: the grassroots won this showdown. Chalk up a victory to democracy over egotism.
Herb

Pass that mind-blowing Kool-Aid, Wabbit.
scf

Wabbit, he had to make a decision, Cauchon and Coderre were having a showdown. It's not like he could have done nothing, he was forced to make a decision, it's not like he chose to make one. And not only that, Iggy was a big cause for the showdown in the first place.
Hitting the eject button before the plane hits the ground is not a tough decision.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Mr. Coderre said he realized “lacked moral authority” to do his job, though he maintains he “has confidence” in Mr. Ignatieff.

Farewell, sweet prince! Here's a Chapleau cartoon to send Coderre on his way:
http://mediamanager.oc3.generationflash.com/clien…

dan in van

Ha! But looks like the artist got it backwards, or is missing the backshot of Cauchon giving Coderre the big wedgie…

Smith

Open for input or afraid of loosing his job?
Blues Clair

Who will replace, Trudeau?

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

I bet Krista Eriksson does as well. Nothing like having good contacts
http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

Does Susan Delacourt speak French? She'd be a goood candidate.

dan in van

I don't think the Liberals need a Mike Duffy type. He and his 'journalistic integrity' continues to shine, despite the swill spilling off his CONny chin.

Smith

Actually, this outremont thing kinda reminds me of the proxy wars that Martin & Chretien used to have…
Bill D, Cat

Andrew still have those cool pics of the Hindenburg laying around ?
http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

“What I find disappointing is that we’re washing our dirty laundry in public”

Said Mr. Coderre, bringing the next basket of stained clothes to the washbasin on the stage.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

And this, on the same day as the quarterly probationary review. Way to sabotage the news cycle for your party and leader, Denis.

Wascally Wabbit

Mr. Coderre's petulence will be a mere pimple on the orgy of feeding frenzies on the deliberate lies and obfuscation in Mr. Harper's report card that will be publicly analyzed in the 3 days to the vote.
Of course – starting with the omission of the various estimates of the size of the deficit from the report card – only good news here folks – HA!
And Mr. Mulcair and Mr. Layton can keep saying it until they are blue in the face – the ONLY way to get parliament working is to run these Harper bums out ASAP!
wilson

Actually, the Lib amendment has the reports card to be tabled in March, June and December.
This September report is a committment the government made in the January budget,
not the Lib amendment.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Oh. I hadn't realized that there was any difference between September and the others. So this one was promised all along by the Conservatives, and it's all the other quarterlies wrestled out of them by the Liberals. Ok, then. Do you know if there is any particular difference in structure, or information, that today's will provide?

wilson

Don't know for sure, but the Lib amendment did not include an automatic non-confidence vote,
because the decision on what is and is not a confidence matter, is strictly the right of the government.
Remember when the opps voted non-confidence in a opp day motion, and Martin said, no, we do not consider it a vote of confidence?
So this report card confidence thing goes no where, unless the government plays along.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Hey, good point.

Bill D, Cat

I wonder if there's still time to re-write the economic update ?

Smith

Nope. But next week there will be an infrastructure announcement in Bourassa.

Calgay Junkie

HAHA. Good one.

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

So the question is what is Coderre going to do about it…..he doesnt strike me as the type to just go to the penalty box and wait it out.
http://nottawa.blogspot.com Mark

Not really. Appointing one candidate instead of another is hardly a resounding victory for democracy.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

It's going to an open nomination in Outremont, as I understand it.

dan in van

Ignore mark. Apparently he's working from the old CON talking points…

http://nottawa.blogspot.com Mark

Yes, dan in van, I am hopelessly addicted to CON talking points. You have me very well-pegged.
SS – I hope you are right about Outremont and it turns out to be an open nomination.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/25/martin-…

"Ignatieff, who will now allow an open nomination contest…"

http://intensedebate.com/people/HarveyMushman HarveyMushman

I thought "Chretienites" and Power Corp were the "grass roots" of the party.

wilson

And obviously, that has not changed.
Rae/Couchon win; MI/Coderre loss.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

Both Outremont and Jean-LeBer will be open nominations. Thus my original point.

keith c

Chris – you're spinning out of control or else, frighteningly, you actually believe what you say. how is an intervention by Chretien and Bob Rae `grassroots democracy' any more than Coderre making special appointments. neither move is illegitimate, but come off it

http://intensedebate.com/people/HarveyMushman HarveyMushman

Et tu Coderre?
http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

I think Libs are fortunate that msm is in the bag for them or else we would be seeing many stories about how the 'progressive' party just threw a woman under the bus in order to accommodate a white guy. Can you imagine the articles we would reading if Cons promised a winnable seat to an accomplished woman and then decided to shove her aside to bring back a retired white male?

http://intensedebate.com/people/HarveyMushman HarveyMushman

Funny thing is…I'm not so sure Outremont is actually "winnable" for the Liberals right now.

IMO Mulclair will be very difficult to unseat now.
wilson

We don't hear much about MI getting parachuted into his riding, and a visible minority women had to step aside, either.
Libs use women as their special 'special interest group'. Women candidates when necessary but not necessarily women candidates.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

Kind of like how the Cons used Lisa Raitt in Halton last election?
http://intensedebate.com/people/YYZ YYZ

Actually wilson, it was quite a big story at the time and we heard a LOT about it.

dan in van

Funny you but you should brush up on your reading skills. Being somewhat skilled and accomplished in her many different ventures, Ms Le Prohon saw that the members of the riding where she was being appointed would have not been completely united in facing their second appointed candidate in two years. If you actually bothered to read any of the stories and reports, you'd see that she approached Ignatieff about running for the nomination of Jeanne-Le-Brer. But as is CON membership requirements, please don't let the truth obscure your talking points.

http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

"you'd see that she approached Ignatieff about running for the nomination of Jeanne-Le-Brer."

Maybe if you write this enough you will start to believe it.

Bill D, Cat

This week is going to be a circus .
http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

The opposition is supposed to present itself as a credible, organized, competent alternative to the government of the day, providing the electorate with an important responsibility of choosing between (or among) credible choices.

Canada is not well-served by this current Grit soap opera. Liberals, if you can't even look like you know what you're doing as a party…

wilson

It's very hard to fake competence.

officerfarva

Coderre, that's because you're the dang stain that just won't wash out! Give up your seat for party renewal, ya tool!
http://intensedebate.com/people/tigerinexil1428 tigerinexile

Look at it this way, folks.

Coderre is a uniter.

Conservatives love watching his fall. Grassroots Liberals love seeing him out. Ditto for the Dippers.

The Bloc doesn't give a darn, because they don't care about anything other than getting the rest of the country to cut them cheques.

Everybody's happy. Good news all around.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

Good analysis.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

Good analysis. On the whole, this is a good thing.

Canuckistanian

i second that emotion
keith c

the loss of one of the Liberal party's most hardworking bulldogs, with the highest profile of any francophone liberal in francophone media, an unambiguous believer in Canadian federalism, is a good thing for them? As a Tory, he annoyed me, and I didn't like him marching for Hezbollah, but the fact that he got under Tory and separatist skins should make most Liberals sad that he blew himself up here by crossing the geriatric capo di capo.

http://intensedebate.com/people/psiclone psiclone

Ordinarily being an uber-partisan myself and loving nothing better than a out and out political bar-fight. I would post something here that was gloating or in some other way displaying a complete lack of grace upon watching an oppoent beat themself up … however in this particular circumstance, I will not as it would be in very bad form .. Suffice it to say that this does not surprise me in the least as the liberal team is nowhere near what it used to be and coronating their current leader started all of this. Until the LPC meets as a party and chooses a leader that they all can get together behind this will continue to happen. The party is an old hand at devouring it's own in times of stress and no doubt what we witnessing is just another chapter in a long and sordid story.

MJ Patchouli

Not sure you were entirely successful in not gloating and not displaying a complete lack of grace. But it's the thought that counts!

Mike514

Paul, delicious irony aside, what are your thoughts on the consequences of this decision? Will the Quebec wing of the Liberal party respond negatively to this news and cause a backlash, or did everyone despise Denis including the Quebec wing?
http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Ms Le Prohon saw that the members of the riding where she was being appointed would have not been completely united in facing their second appointed candidate in two years…she approached Ignatieff about running for the nomination of Jeanne-Le-Brer

And this is not a Liberal talking point that you are dutifully parroting?

The irony just comes seeping out of this thread.