Stephane Dion wins!

[vishliberal]

Why Dion?

Stephane Dion will prove to be an interesting leader of the Liberal party and I think less controversial and mixed responses than that of Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae.

 

[gc]

He has been my 2nd choice all along. I think he will make a great leader....much better than rae or ignatieff for sure.

 

[RedGreen]

Today is a great day for ALL Canadians!

Stéphane Dion is just the leader the Liberals need in order to oust the embarassmment of a government that we have now. Since Harper's Conservatives have been in power I have felt slightly worse about being Canadian. I don't like the fact that other countries have a sour taste about Canada lately. Dion will get us back on the path to being a world leader in many areas that have been lacking lately. We are ALL Liberals here in Canada no matter what anyone says. Its great to see our party back in a state that represents us in a responsible and honest way. I see the Liberal party regaining power and being there for a long time for the right reasons. I see progress, I see future and I see the day coming soon when we can be truely proud to be Canadian again.

Thank you Stéphanie for reuniting the Liberals thus taking the first step in reuniting Canadians.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Today is a great day for ALL Canadians!

Stéphane Dion is just the leader the Liberals need in order to oust the embarassmment of a government that we have now. Since Harper's Conservatives have been in power I have felt slightly worse about being Canadian. I don't like the fact that other countries have a sour taste about Canada lately. Dion will get us back on the path to being a world leader in many areas that have been lacking lately. We are ALL Liberals here in Canada no matter what anyone says. Its great to see our party back in a state that represents us in a responsible and honest way. I see the Liberal party regaining power and being there for a long time for the right reasons. I see progress, I see future and I see the day coming soon when we can be truely proud to be Canadian again.

Thank you Stéphanie for reuniting the Liberals thus taking the first step in reuniting Canadians.

Are you paid to type that crap?

Have you forgoten the embarasement of the previous liberal government?

Regardless of who governs, I am always proud to be Canadian.

 

[RedGreen]

I am always proud to be Canadian, but less so when the decision making and general image projected by my government doesn't reflect at all my views or the views of any other Canadians that I know.

I remember the previous Liberal government. I didn't support the previous Liberal government. I feel excited about the way the Liberal "Dream team" (to quote M. Dion) will represent us in the future.

 

[DurkaDurka]

I am always proud to be Canadian, but less so when the decision making and general image projected by my government doesn't reflect at all my views or the views of any other Canadians that I know.

I remember the previous Liberal government. I didn't support the previous Liberal government. I feel excited about the way the Liberal "Dream team" (to quote M. Dion) will represent us in the future.

I remember the previous Liberal government. I didn't support the previous Liberal government.
That's common amongst Liberal Fanatics.

"Dream Team" Are you mixing NBA and Politics together?

Dion will do no better then Martin did, if that.

 

[RedGreen]

M. Dion said "Dream team", not me. I think that was a little goofy but hey M. Dion is a little quirky, aren't we all?

I have never actually voted Liberal in a federal election to set that straight.

 

[RedGreen]

Anyways,

I am happy with M. Dion I think he'll get Liberal votes back from the NDPs, the Conservatives, the greens and maybe even some 'bloceurs'. I have no doubt that the Liberals will be back in power after the next election whenever that may be.

cheers all

 

[Sassylassie]

I would of prefered Dryden as the Liberal leader, I won't vote for a party who's leader is from Quebec. Been there done that burnt the book. I'd like to see the Cons stay in power for two years and let the Liberals regroup and reflect on the corruption and arrogance of some of it's party members (Liberals do not have to god given right to rule Canada). After two years I'd like to see Brian Tobin or Frank Mackinna run for the leadership of the Liberal Party, or Ken Dryden again, most Canadians are fed up to their eye balls with the idea that only a French Speaking person from Quebec can run this country, poppy cock it's time for the East and West to have a turn at kicking the can. :|

 

[Toro]

This is too much fun.

Today is a great day for ALL Canadians!

Especially conservatives.

Stéphane Dion is just the leader the Liberals need in order to oust the embarassmment of a government that we have now.

I know that Harper's government hasn't perfected giving money to mafioso in brown paper bags underneath restaurant tables all the while dishing out hundreds of millions of dollars with nary a receipt to treat Quebeckers like infantile morons, but I'm sure they'll get there one day.

Since Harper's Conservatives have been in power I have felt slightly worse about being Canadian.

Oh, its tough to be you!

I don't like the fact that other countries have a sour taste about Canada lately.

Nobody much cares what Canada thinks. Sorry, its true.

Dion will get us back on the path to being a world leader in many areas that have been lacking lately.

A world leader?

Its all gone downhill in 11 months!

We are ALL Liberals here in Canada no matter what anyone says.

Did you get that from the Robert Mugabe school of politics?

Its great to see our party back in a state that represents us in a responsible and honest way.

Yes, after all those years of corruption as part of the Liberal Crime Syndicate, you can take a shower and feel clean once again.

I see the Liberal party regaining power and being there for a long time for the right reasons. I see progress, I see future and I see the day coming soon when we can be truely proud to be Canadian again.

I see a paid-up member of the Liberal Party copying straight off the Liberal's web site.

Thank you Stéphanie for reuniting the Liberals thus taking the first step in reuniting Canadians.

Except for the Quebecois, who'll never vote for you for authoring the Clarity Act. But other than them, yes, thank you for re-uniting Canadians.

 

[Colpy]

I would of prefered Dryden as the Liberal leader, I won't vote for a party who's leader is from Quebec. Been there done that burnt the book. I'd like to see the Cons stay in power for two years and let the Liberals regroup and reflect on the corruption and arrogance of some of it's party members (Liberals do not have to god given right to rule Canada). After two years I'd like to see Brian Tobin or Frank Mackinna run for the leadership of the Liberal Party, or Ken Dryden again, most Canadians are fed up to their eye balls with the idea that only a French Speaking person from Quebec can run this country, poppy cock it's time for the East and West to have a turn at kicking the can. :|

"If you walked through Brian Tobin's deepest thoughts, you wouldn't get your ankles wet." Clyde Wells

McKenna is alright.

My main concern about Dion (besides his leftiness) is that he has done nothing but an academic.
Ivory towers are not condusive to good leadership.

 

[#juan]

I think one of Dion's best points is that he is not a super smooth politician. The man seems to be an honest straight shooter. Maybe an honest man is what we need. What the hell good is charisma and charm if a man is a liar.

 

[kellystone]

Yup

who cares about politicians or who wins. We the tax payer are the one who loses always in the end

 

[iluvpoutine]

Yeah, baby!!! I am one HAPPY LIBERAL from Quebec today. I've believed in Dion from the beginning and knew he'd win. Hard working, intellligent, honest, and a man with integrity. Can't ask for more. I like his ideas & his future views of a united Canada!

Watch out Stevie baby - Dion is going to whip your ass out of Ottawa! YEEEHAW!!!! :blob2::blob2:

 

[vishliberal]

This is interesting but, as others said above, he is not JUST an academic, lets be serious here. Michael Ignatieff was more than JUST an academic, he was a politician with 10 years experience AND an academic. He served for a while in the cabinet posts.

What I like about Dion is that he succesfully managed to distance himsefl from the corrupted majority liberals. Read the gomery inquiry. Read about all the other liberal scandals under Martin or Chretien, DION IS NOT INVOLVED. Thats something about Dion that didnt make him seem likeable to win. He didnt have the big connections and senators to win. The two guys that had the high profile support was, Ignatieff and Rae.

However he was elected, and he has managed to distance himself from the corruption for 10 years in cabinet and has focused more on work, now what some say may be correct, leave the liberals out of power for a while, leave them out of an election so they can pay for whatever they did. However, when they are ready for another election, Dion should be ready. I think this decision is better than Ignatieff or Rae who were getting mixed responses. I think we should be fair to Dion and not accredit the corruption or the culture of entitlement that liberals were involved him, but he managed to distance himself from, and I think this was a deciding factor for many delegates to support him. Not as much caucus and previous Martin-Chretien high profile supporters, but he won.

As for the Quebec situation, I dont think a regional location is that much of a big deal. Where Harper is located doesnt make a difference for me or whether I would/nt vote for him. I understand that the past few liberal leaders are from Quebec. If he was just like the past (say, Coderre, LaPierre) I would say, Same old same old, but Dion was not appart of the corruption issues and thats why I think that wherever he is from is not as important than what he stands for.
Dion said he plans to be an effective opposition and a leader. When Chretien asked him for help, he did it. When Martin asked him for help, he did it. When Harper asked him for his input and help, he gave it. He also provided about 6 ammendments to the environment clean air act, but they did not go through. I think that He will be an effective opposition leader. So for those of you who dont want the liberals in an election anytime soon, I actually agree and think that he can rejuvinate the party because of his lack of association with the backroom boys and needs to spend some time in the opposition to prove themselves a bit more to Canadian, and for that I think he will be a good Leader of the Opposition. For those of you who like him and want another election soon to boot out Harper, I think that he will prove to be a good opponent to run against him and clean up the Liberal Party image federally. Go DION! :smilebox:

 

[#juan]

I haven't looked at a poll lately, but the last poll I saw had the Liberals sans leader, neck and neck with the tories. Dion can only improve that situation.

 

[Colpy]

I think one of Dion's best points is that he is not a super smooth politician. The man seems to be an honest straight shooter. Maybe an honest man is what we need. What the hell good is charisma and charm if a man is a liar.

Dead on, Juan.

Unfortunately, I think high level politics makes liars out of some otherwise very good people.

I like Dion, he is just from the opposite end of the political spectrum.........I couldn't vote for him.

Honestly, I couldn't see myself voting for ANY Quebecer. It is time we got out from underneath them. It IS a different culture, and the ROC needs to be in the driver's seat for a good, long time.

 

[the caracal kid]

I agree with you colpy that politics makes liars.

When faced with the choice of tell the people the ugly truth and loose your office or tell them a half-truth that is what they want to hear, the latter has great appeal.

We have popularists for politicians, and if history is a guide (which it is), it will be our downfall.

 

[gc]

I won't vote for a party who's leader is from Quebec.

Honestly, I couldn't see myself voting for ANY Quebecer

Why not? Just because he is from a different part of the country than you? Dion was chosen because he was the best choice out of all the potential leaders (aside from Kennedy, IMO) not because he is from Quebec? So, why discriminate against someone just because they are from Quebec?

 

[Colpy]

Why not? Just because he is from a different part of the country than you? Dion was chosen because he was the best choice out of all the potential leaders (aside from Kennedy, IMO) not because he is from Quebec? So, why discriminate against someone just because they are from Quebec?

Because, as I said and as any Quebecois will tell you, Quebec is a culture unto itself, different in some very basic ways than the ROC.

Take a number of major issues, like the gun registry, Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, relations with the USA, SSM, and on and on. Compare opinion in the ROC with that in Quebec..........very, very different. In Canada, we elect someone to absolute power for their term as PM. No one is immune to cultural influence, therefore the government reflects the culture of its leader.We have been led by Quebecers for 35 of the last 39 years...........time for the ROC to lead.

And I need to say again......I like Dion. He strikes me as intelligent and sincere..........but he is VERY Quebecois........and very left.

I will be interested in how he stands up against Harper in the House. As Paul Martin proved, success in a portfolio is certainly NOT an indicator of ability as leader.

And, Dion just may not be tough enough........enough of a liar, if you will, to overcome.