Canadian Liberal Leadership Election 2013

[RogueBeaver]

Regan formally endorses Justin.

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

[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

[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.

[RogueBeaver]

2nd question: What do you answer to anti-Liberal progressives.

Garneau: Understand your frustration, but no cooperation. We're Grits, not Dippers!

Coyne: No cooperation.

Cauchon: LPC greatest democratic institution in the world (ROFLMAO). Non-ideological pragmatism.

Bertschi: No merger.

MHF: We are fiscally and socially responsible.

Yep, but too many candidates on stage.

[RogueBeaver]

Murray: Cooperate!

Open debate.

[RogueBeaver]

Garneau: Switch the voting system to preferential balloting.

MHF: Yes.

Trudeau: Thanks for that, we talked about this last year. Great idea but we need to focus on rebuilding our party.

Cauchon: Same thing.

Murray's getting hit from all sides for this cooperation idea like Cullen was. MHF even said "where's your confidence" in those precise words.

[RogueBeaver]

MHF/Cauchon/Coyne: King won in 1926 (!) partly on joint tickets. Would you do the same?

Coyne: No.

MHF: No, I'm a proud Grit. Have some confidence. Fiscally & socially responsible.

Cauchon: 338 candidates full stop.

[RogueBeaver]

Plan for transitioning away from fossil fuels?

Garneau: Space reference, disincentives to pollute.

Bertschi: Shot at Garneau's astronomy. (WTF?)

[RogueBeaver]

Murray/Trudeau/McCrimmon. Another (!) question on coop.

McCrimmon: National petitions, then send it off to parties for study.

Trudeau: Preferential ballot, no coop. Made a decent case for it.

Murray: Throw out Harper!

Trudeau: Important, but what values would you jettison? No polarization.

McCrimmon: We need to regain trust, this plan would look like a cheap power play.

[RogueBeaver]

Social housing.

Trudeau: Coordinate infrastructure investment.

Bertschi: Work with the private sector to do that.

[RogueBeaver]

Economic development for aboriginals.

McCrimmon: Consultations, partnerships, resource sharing, common vision.

Cauchon: Empowerment. Tearing up Kelowna Accord, won't let Harper tear up social fabric.

Takach: Harper bad economist.

[RogueBeaver]

Garneau/MHF/Trudeau on housing. Question: Horrible housing but at least I had somewhere to live. What creative ideas do you have on social housing?

Garneau: Need to do more, see it in my riding.

Trudeau: Need stronger economy through middle-class jobs, not just stats.


Garneau: Need compassion, change govt because it wants to get out of housing.

Trudeau: Right doesn't believe in sharing, left doesn't believe in sustainability. Need both.

MHF: There's an economic cost to these social problems.

[RogueBeaver]

I'll put it this way. Is he a wonk? No. Is he dumb? No. Street smarts? You bet. Marc Garneau is quite literally a rocket scientist, but his political skills are somewhat different.

In terms of who "won": I'd agree with Ibbitson and Den Tandt. MHF or Garneau on points, but nothing changed.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/liberal-leadership-debate-stays-on-script/article7569800/

http://www.canada.com/Tepid%2BLiberal%2Bleadership%2Bdebate%2Bchange%2Banyone%2Bmind%2Babout%2Banything/7846728/story.html

[RogueBeaver]

Fundraising.

http://www.punditsguide.ca/2013/01/trudeau-q4-fundraising-juggernaut-signals-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-liberal-leadership-race/

Saturday is a series of interviews. Halifax a town hall.

http://www.hilltimes.com/news/politics/2013/01/31/liberals-opt-for-individual-tv-interviews-not-tv-debates-in-winnipeg-say-it%E2%80%99s/33522