Leadership Race going into Super Weekend

Super Weekend is upon us! I know we're all excited to see the outcome. Here are some of my remarks on the remaining candidates:

1. Ignatieff: He was good in the last debate, but was weak on the Iraq War question as expected. He's a great speaker, but he seems awkward and uncomfortable when unscripted.

2. Rae: Oh, do I despise this guy. Personal bias aside, he is very charismatic and has a good chance of winning (God help us all). Given that practically every candidate that drops out will go to him, he has huge late-ballot potential.

3. Dion: A policy wonk, as we all know by now, but is that what we want in a leader...don't we want someone who's inspiring. Aren't we fed up of the insistence on top-down policy? I've realized too that his English is not that great either. He's probably Rae's biggest challenger right now.

4. Gerard Kennedy: Hasn't yet adjusted to federal politics. Needs to improve his French. A huge disappointment, as people are now talking about him in the "second-tier"


5. Martha Hall Findlay: Has hung in there, despite odds. If this party is serious about renewal, she MUST stay in until the Convention.

6. Ken Dryden: Lot of people are hyping Dryden's support, and I suspect it might be lower than expected. He's a humble and genuine person, and showed some real inspiration in the last debate (in his closing statements). I wish him well.

7. Scott Brison: Impressive, and sharp. His Conservative past, though discourages me from supporting him as the leader, but he would make a good minister of finance, for example. He might be the next to drop out.

8. Joe Volpe: lol...I detest this guy so much, that I'm starting to like him. I definitely don't think he should drop out, 'cause the things that are happening in his campaign are probably happening in everybody else's too. There needs to be a thorough review by the party - and those people involved must be duly punished. The question of the century is: who will Volpe eventually support (definitely not Iggy), and (ii) who wants Volpe's support?


Aside: I wish Hedy Fry well. I don't know why people didn't take her more seriously, because she was one of the most inspiring speakers of the bunch. too bad...

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Leadership Debate #3

I haven't posted in a while, but I have come to tell you of my voyages in la belle province. I just happened to be in Quebec City on September 10, and watched the 3rd leadership debate live. I went to the Citadelle, and what a beautiful view it was!!! I also spent some time with Michael Ignatieff there, and his wife, and he gave me a history lesson on the Plains of Abraham [he even remembered me after the debate, as 'the guy from Sudbury']. Nice guy.

As we get to the home stretch, the differences among candidates is showing. Here is my eyewitness account of how it all went down:

Michael Ignatieff: I met him, and he is very personable. During the debate, he was defiant in his defence of constitutional change for the recognition of Quebec as a nation. I admire this determination; it's about time we have that in a leader.

Bob Rae: Said constitutional change would be 'difficult'. Isn't that what leadership is all about - attacking those issues that are difficult.

Martha Hall Findlay: More aggressive than usual - spoke really well, and connected with the audience especially at the end. Should have spoke French more, and with more confidence, as her French is pretty good.

Scott Brison: I was really impressed - he really talked with passion, and enthusiasm. Even though he has a thick accent, he was able to connect with the audience numerous times in French. Very impressive.

Hedy Fry: Kept repeating herself, and her French at times was incomprehensible. I think she has good ideas, but she can't express them in French.

Carolyn Bennett: Same as above. It was painful to watch her speak in French.


Gerard Kennedy: Found no distinctiveness in his ideas, and he struggled with French. This 'star candidate' is fading rapidly.

Joe Volpe: Spoke well in both languages, and had good ideas - but trying to steal the stage too many times, and the audience was definitely not happy. Why is he in the race again?

Stephane Dion: He is turning into the policy wonk, I always knew he was....he was shooting out policy like rapid-fire. At times, he was over-confident, and a tad arrogant....perhaps he could learn a little from Mr. Rae.

Ken Dryden: Couldn't understand what he was saying. Needs to work on French.


So all in all, it was good time in Quebec City. Here's my ranking of the top five:

1. Dion
2. Brison
3. Ignatieff
4. Rae
5. Hall Findlay

Can't wait until this Sunday's debate in Vancouver! Please comment -