If Dion steps aside who should replace him and why?

[CBC News]

Rumours swirl around the future of embattled Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.
Many in the party feel that Dion must resign so the Liberal party can rebuild after being reduced to 76 seats in Tuesday's federal election, one of the party's worst-ever showings.
Dion has remained in seclusion at the Official Opposition leader's residence, mulling his fate. Media reports indicate a growing pressure on Dion to step down.
Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Gerard Kennedy, along with former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna and former deputy prime minister John Manley have been suggested as possible future leadership candidates.
If Dion steps aside who do you think should replace him and why?


More...

 

[TenPenny]

Rumours swirl around the future of embattled Liberal Leader If Dion steps aside who do you think should replace him and why?

A small chunk of rock would do well.

 

[lone wolf]

A small chunk of rock would do well.

Harper's is still in the bull....

 

[scratch]

A small chunk of rock would do well.

With all due respect to you.....it's (or would be) better than a grain of sand.

 

[Ron in Regina]

What about "Ralph Goodale" as a
replacement for the Leader of the Federal Liberal Party of Canada???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Goodale

http://www.liberal.ca/candidate_e.aspx?riding=47013
Ralph Goodale became the House Leader of the Official Opposition on February 10, 2006
following his sixth successful election as a Liberal Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan.

Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Mr. Goodale is a graduate of the University
of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. He has practical experience in business, agriculture,
law and broadcasting, as well as federal and provincial politics.

He was first elected in 1974 to represent the federal constituency of Assiniboia. In the 1980s, he
became the provincial leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party and in 1986 was elected a Member
of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons as the MP for Regina-Wascana in 1993 and was
re-elected consecutively in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006. (He was re-elected again last night)

Through more than 12 years of Liberal government, he served variously as Minister of Agriculture,
Natural Resources, Public Works and Finance. He also served as Government House Leader. He
has carried responsibilities for the Canadian Wheat Board, Communication Canada, Métis and
Non-Status Indians and the resolution of Indian Residential Schools issues.

Ralph Goodale and his wife, Pamela, make their home in Regina.


I tried to "Copy&Paste" this from a different thread and ended up pasting to the wrong
thread once already. I hope this works this time.

 

[scratch]

What about "Ralph Goodale" as a
replacement for the Leader of the Federal Liberal Party of Canada???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Goodale

http://www.liberal.ca/candidate_e.aspx?riding=47013
Ralph Goodale became the House Leader of the Official Opposition on February 10, 2006
following his sixth successful election as a Liberal Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan.

Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Mr. Goodale is a graduate of the University
of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. He has practical experience in business, agriculture,
law and broadcasting, as well as federal and provincial politics.

He was first elected in 1974 to represent the federal constituency of Assiniboia. In the 1980s, he
became the provincial leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party and in 1986 was elected a Member
of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons as the MP for Regina-Wascana in 1993 and was
re-elected consecutively in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006. (He was re-elected again last night)

Through more than 12 years of Liberal government, he served variously as Minister of Agriculture,
Natural Resources, Public Works and Finance. He also served as Government House Leader. He
has carried responsibilities for the Canadian Wheat Board, Communication Canada, Métis and
Non-Status Indians and the resolution of Indian Residential Schools issues.

Ralph Goodale and his wife, Pamela, make their home in Regina.


I tried to "Copy&Paste" this from a different thread and ended up pasting to the wrong
thread once already. I hope this works this time.

Ron,
As a jewel in the rough, I heartily agree with your choice.
We need some one from outside Quebec.

Sincere regards,
scratch

 

[lone wolf]

Bob Rae would be good - experienced and knows who REALLY runs the show - but Ontario still hasn't come to terms with reality so that's his millstone.

 

[coldstream]

The liberals always look for intellectual credentials in their leaders, for better or worse. It would make Michael Ignatieff the odds on favourite for the leadership, for Liberals hoping to respark the Trudeau magic of the ascetic philosopher king, largely untouched by political past, which is largely a figment of their imagination. They have also historically switch between French and English, which why Dion was given the nod despite what many insiders saw was a complete lack of connection with voters, English or French, or and understanding of decisive issues.

 

[scratch]

Bob Rae would be good - experienced and knows who REALLY runs the show - but Ontario still hasn't come to terms with reality so that's his millstone.

Rae might work.
Will have to wait.....

Regards,
scratch

 

[Risus]

Bob Rae would be good - experienced and knows who REALLY runs the show - but Ontario still hasn't come to terms with reality so that's his millstone.

Bob Rae made a complete mess of Ontario. Let the liberals elect him leader and then all Ontario will vote Conservative. Good idea!!

 

[lone wolf]

Bob Rae made a complete mess of Ontario. Let the liberals elect him leader and then all Ontario will vote Conservative. Good idea!!

See ... there's one who hasn't come to terms with reality yet....

Opinions are like buttholes. Everyone's got one ... and some just are. Rae could only work with what he had. Harris, on the other hand, deliberately went out of his way to screw Ontario.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

I am sure Michael Ignatieff is eying the top Job..........and also I am sure the next Librela Leader will have the least amount of bagage in an efort to reclaim Ontarion..

 

[Ron in Regina]

I like "Frank McKenna" also. I've actually dealt with him a couple of years ago when I didn't
actually know who he was. I was trying to help out a Trucker (who's also a Preacher) who at
the age of 48 or so was crossing the border (this is during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina)
engaged in hauling RV's south to house the homeless....when this guy was asked by a young
border guard if he'd ever had a conviction for drugs or alcohol?

The Trucker answered, "Well Son, back when I was 17yrs old and long before you where
born, I was arrested with a joint in my pocket...and that was over 30yrs ago and I have a
pardon in the truck that I can go and get for you." Well.....they ripped his truck apart, and
banned him from entry into the USA. In trying to fix things so that this Preacher (who became
a trucker to haul these RV's south), I ended up dealing with Mr. McKenna before I realized
that he was actually the Ambassador, and not just one of the embassy employees. Frank
McKenna is one of the good guys. He's hands-on. I might even vote Liberal if Mr. McKenna
was running and their platform wasn't completely horrible.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Frank McKenna is out, he has made it clear that he is not interested on the top job being that his wife is ill..............

One politician who has the abilety for the top job also is Brian Toben, he may reserfice in the federal political arena.........

 

[Ron in Regina]

Frank McKenna is out, he has made it clear that he is not interested on the top job being that his wife is ill..............

I didn't know. I still think he's a really good guy. What's your opinion on Ralph Goodale Soc?

 

[Socrates the Greek]

I didn't know. I still think he's a really good guy. What's your opinion on Ralph Goodale Soc?

Ralph has the knowhow but not the Canadian idol...

 

[Ron in Regina]

Ralph has the knowhow but not the Canadian idol...

Sad....I'm not sure of his ability (if it exists at all) in French either but that would have
been something he could have dealt with via a tutor. Being from the Wilcox area, he's
not too far north of a large pocket of French speaking peoples out here on the Prairies
as strange as that might sound. Wilcox, Sk is only 10 minutes away from Rouleau, Sk
which most folks know best by it's stage name of "Dog River, Sk." Wilcox is home to
Notre Dame College (as in Father Athol Murray) with a definite French tie in...

 

[Risus]

See ... there's one who hasn't come to terms with reality yet....

Opinions are like buttholes. Everyone's got one ... and some just are. Rae could only work with what he had. Harris, on the other hand, deliberately went out of his way to screw Ontario.

Yeah, yeah everyone blames Harris....

I was dealing with the Ministry of Natural Resources at that time, and the department was running like a well oiled machine under the Conservatives. When the NDP got in it went to hell in a handbasket so fast your head would spin. And that was only 1 example of many disasters.

Maybe you were still living under a rock at that time....

 

[lone wolf]

Yeah, yeah everyone blames Harris....

I was dealing with the Ministry of Natural Resources at that time, and the department was running like a well oiled machine under the Conservatives. When the NDP got in it went to hell in a handbasket so fast your head would spin. And that was only 1 example of many disasters.

Maybe you were still living under a rock at that time....

I asked you a long time ago what happened and you didn't have an answer then either. I think you're just impressed with the appearance of your own words on a monitor.

Does that mean the foreman kept his gaze averted while you and some buddies robbed the place blind?

EDIT: BTW.... Peterson's Liberals were in before Rae got the job....

 

[Socrates the Greek]

I asked you a long time ago what happened and you didn't have an answer then either. I think you're just impressed with the appearance of your own words on a monitor....

Does that mean the foreman kept his gaze averted while you and some buddies robbed the place blind?

Good slant LW