The "B-Team"?
Throughout the leadership campaign, I have heard reporters refer frequently to the "B-Team" ; those candidates in the bottom-tier, who have little or no chance of winning. Candidates in this group include - Brison, Fry, Bennett, Bevilacqua, Hall Findlay, and Dryden.
Why has this occurred? Isn't this campaign supposed to be a fair and open race, with the spirit of inclusivity reigning supreme. All of the above candidates bring unique views and aspects to the race, and before Super Weekend has even started...before delegates have been selected, they're already being written off.
Shame, shame, shame on the media for trying to drive a wedge in this leadership race. I can only hope that there will be some semblance of equal treatment given to each and every candidate, to express their views on the future of the Liberal Party and this country.
I do agree, however, that in debates it will turn into a "fracas", if you will; a huge melee, where a candidate's views will be muddled in with their 10 rivals. Thus, it is of utmost importance that starting June 10 (when there will be a debate in Winnipeg), the candidates start to carve their identity, their niche, in the race. Risks will have to be taken; strong, distinctive policy will have to be developed.
Otherwise, the candidates will be thrown in a dark oblivion...their names written off the minds of reporters. I guess, famed historian Thomas Carlyle was right, when he said:
"Edmund Burke said that there were three Estates in Parliament, but in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a fourth Estate more important than they all."
hmmm...a thought to ponder. Perhaps, we are in need of a fifth estate?
Cheers,
posted by Uncle J @ 7:27 p.m.
4 Comments:
to be fair ... there used to be six viable options, now it is down to four. Before long there will liely be 3 going into convention.
Isn't what whittling down the field, and letting the cream rise to the top the whole point of a leadership contest?
Yes, however the media did that a priori...before the race had even officially begun; no debates have occurred, and yet they are already determining who's in the A-Team and B-Team...that does not promote a fair, just leadership contest.
Some people enter leadership races even when they don't have the backing, experience or skill set to win. They still get a lot out of it - just look at how Belinda's Tory leadership bid catapulted her into cabinet. Sometimes these so-called B-team candidates enter the race to get their ideas on the national agenda or to represent a specific constituency.
Six months ago I would have bet large that Gerard Kennedy would be a B-team candidate with no hope of becoming leader who was using the race to get a leg up in federal politics. I'm still pretty amazed that people think he could be leader at this stage in his career, with no experience outside of social services and rather sketchy political skills. Not that he's a bad guy, but at this point in his career he seems totally unqualified to beat Harper or to run the country.
Your are Nice. And so is your site! Maybe you need some more pictures. Will return in the near future.
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