Canadian Liberal Leadership Election 2013

[RogueBeaver]

MHF is closer to Redford than Clark on Gateway, also repeats her "celebrity" jibe (though I'm betting, not at the debate in 3 weeks).

http://www.globalnews.ca/liberals+need+to+take+stronger+stands+hall+findlay/6442779859/story.html

[RogueBeaver]

JT has raised $600k.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/justin-trudeaus-leadership-campaign-rakes-in-more-dough-than-mulcairs--185941952.html

[RogueBeaver]

At least 100k supporters will vote.

http://www.hilltimes.com/news/politics/2013/01/09/liberals-say-they-expect-100000-plus-eligible-voters-for-leadership-at-least/33270?page_requested=1

Garneau still a distant second.

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/Barbara+Yaffe+Justin+Trudeau+falters+Marc+Garneau/7796993/story.html

Reminder: first debate in Vancouver on the 20th, will be live on CPAC.

[Nichlemn]

lol, $600k may be a lot by Canadian standards, but it'd barely finance a primary for a US House seat.

[RogueBeaver]

I'm not a fan, but that's our CF regime for ya. The spending limit is $900k, to put it in context.

[RogueBeaver]

What's Brison waiting for? He'd be the ideal deputy for JT... but an endorsement would presumably increase those chances.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/404423-brison-lone-ns-liberal-mp-not-to-endorse-trudeau-yet

[justfollowingtheelections]

I'm not a fan, but that's our CF regime for ya. The spending limit is $900k, to put it in context.

$900k?  Sounds good to me!

[RogueBeaver]

Cauchon will be getting in soon, LOL. Remember when he used to be someone?

http://demarchy.ca/post/40162055167/martin-cauchon-everyone

[RogueBeaver]

Regan formally endorses Justin.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2013-01-11/article-3154955/Regan-endorses-Trudeaus-leadership-bid/1

[DC Al Fine]

Regan formally endorses Justin.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2013-01-11/article-3154955/Regan-endorses-Trudeaus-leadership-bid/1

Fun story: On election night in 2011, Geoff Regan called our campaign headquarters to try and concede defeat.

[RogueBeaver]

I think that's a wrap for big-name endorsements in this race. 9 candidates on that stage next week... gonna be messy. Too bad the LPC didn't limit these to current or former MPs.

[RogueBeaver]

Somewhat related: Coyne's memoir.

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1313900--deborah-coyne-s-memoir-about-politics-and-pierre-trudeau

[RogueBeaver]

Cauchon is in.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/former-cabinet-minister-cauchon-makes-late-entry-into-liberal-leadership-race/article7307570/?cmpid=rss1&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Zioneer]

I don't know why, but even though I don't understand French, Canadian elections are easier for me to understand and follow than UK or Aussie elections. Going to be following these Canadian politics threads, though obviously cheering on the NDP and to the lesser extent the Liberals.

I understand that Justin Trudeau is a "charismatic young scion of a beloved/hated politician" type, but at a loss about Canadian Liberal politics beyond that. I assume he hasn't gotten the party united behind him, so who are the prominent anti-JT contenders?

EDIT: Whoops, nevermind, noticed the first page.

[RogueBeaver]

Trudeau has basically gotten the party behind him. He has enthusiastic grassroots support and the endorsement of the party's top powerbrokers, from the former prime ministers (including his mentor Jean Chretien, the party's elder statesman) on down. His chief opponents, Montreal MP Marc Garneau and ex-Toronto MP Martha Hall Findlay, don't have any sort of factional or geographic base from which to mount an effective challenge. Nor do they have the establishment connections that Trudeau does.

Liberal politics more generally: There are left and right factions, though that pertains only to economic and not social matters. Because of the Chretien/Martin (centre-left and right-wing respectively) leadership rivalry-turned-civil-war in the '90s and Aughts, which were a clash of personal ambitions rather than anything ideological, these factions are often called Chretienite or Martinet respectively even though both men are long retired from active politics. Stephane Dion was a Chretienite left-winger, Michael Ignatieff a right-winger and politically a puppet of the Martin operatives who recruited him into politics. Interim leader Bob Rae has old and close ties with Chretien, he doesn't openly identify with either faction. The right faction's current leader is finance critic and policy guru Scott Brison- he hasn't endorsed anyone and isn't expected to.

As for Trudeau, he's by bloodline and ideological leaning a member of the dominant Chretien/center-left wing but his personal appeal transcends faction or ideology within the party.

[RogueBeaver]

Per Twitter, Borys W has endorsed Trudeau.

[RogueBeaver]

Hear, hear. If you lose 2-1 in your own riding, your candidacy doesn't pass the laugh test.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1314869--has-martin-cauchon-joined-liberal-leadership-race-too-late-hebert

[RogueBeaver]

Cauchon: a political loser surrounded by a bunch of losers, some controversial. Oh, and the president of Garneau's own riding association is defecting to Trudeau.

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/201301/15/01-4611426-des-liberaux-perplexes-devant-martin-cauchon.php

[RogueBeaver]

Trudeau gets Lise St-Denis' endorsement.

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-nouvelliste/politique-canadienne/201301/16/01-4611981-justin-trudeau-de-passage-en-mauricie.php

And Hedy Fry's.

http://www.straight.com/news/343326/vancouver-mp-hedy-fry-backs-justin-trudeau-liberal-leadership

[RogueBeaver]

MHF: I may not run if I don't win.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/hall-findlay-wont-promise-to-run-in-2015-if-liberal-leadership-bid-fails-187187681.html

Debate format.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberal-candidates-line-up-for-final-stretch-of-leadership-race/article7452253/

[RogueBeaver]

Murray interview.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1316602--liberal-leadership-debate-in-vancouver-will-give-candidate-joyce-murray-time-to-shine

Policy might get short-shrifted on Sunday.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/01/17/pol-advancer-liberal-leader-debate-sunday.html?cmp=rss

Rules, rules, more rules.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberal-rivals-clash-over-whether-campaigns-own-supporters-they-sign-up/article7514663/

[RogueBeaver]

Debate's about to start on CBC and CPAC.

[RogueBeaver]

Garneau: We must talk about policy, I was the first one to start talking about it. Rabbit-punched Trudeau through Kim Campbell (!) by saying a campaign is the time to talk about policy. Passionate and confident.

Murray: Cooperate, resume.

[RogueBeaver]

Trudeau: I have BC roots, middle class suffering, rekindle the flame, unity.

[Foucaulf]

It's great how the moderators cut off the mic right when a candidate's time is up, so several of the candidates' responses stop mid-sentence. People should watch the debate for that reason alone.