Canadian Liberal Leadership Election 2013

[Meeker]

I'm guessing the campaigns have taken note of this and are adjusting accordingly, but the method of selecting a winner for this is pretty wacky. It's basically the U.S. electoral college if all 50 states had an equal number of votes. Any candidate who can rack up victories in rural/exurban ridings and not get slaughtered in suburban/urban ones has a pretty good chance of victory. A vote coming from rural Alberta, or any riding with very few LPC supporters, is worth significantly more than a vote from Toronto or Montreal.

So basically, the US Senate?

A body with an equally wacky method of election

[DC Al Fine]

Here are the rules if anyone else wants to read them: http://www.liberal.ca/leadership-2013/faq/

It also means that any sort of national polling is pretty worthless unless one candidate has a massive lead in April.

Mea culpa

[RogueBeaver]

Chantal Hebert on Garneau.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1294625--hebert-marc-garneau-is-the-liberals-insurance-plan

[King of Kensington]

Justin is such a bad actor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp_O3liJpu8

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Justin is such a bad actor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp_O3liJpu8

When I first saw that, I had to find the original speech, because it looked so fake, I couldn't tell if it was faked.

[Meeker]

Justin is such a bad actor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp_O3liJpu8

Oh my God. Nearly unbelievable. The too strong emotion, the third person... wow.

Also, what the hell is up with the staging? Could they not find a podium and also put a little distance between him and the reporters? Bizarre optics.

[Holmes]

Most, uh... media blitzes are like that in Parliament. But sometimes, the reporters are a lot more closer to the person and squished. Usually for Mulcair or high ranking people in Harper's cabinet (Harper himself rarely addresses the media directly).

[DC Al Fine]

Justin is such a bad actor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp_O3liJpu8

Oh my God. Nearly unbelievable. The too strong emotion, the third person... wow.

Also, what the hell is up with the staging? Could they not find a podium and also put a little distance between him and the reporters? Bizarre optics.

Oh God, kill me.

[King of Kensington]

You can see one of the journalists try to hide her laughter at 1:10 and another says "Oh come on!" when JT is done. 

[RogueBeaver]

How many times is that video gonna be posted?

Anyhoo, another white-noiser in.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/tech-guru-george-takach-joins-crowded-federal-liberal-leadership--181323231.html

[MaxQue]

What it is telling than all those marginal candidates are trying to run?

[Smid]

What it is telling than all those marginal candidates are trying to run?

Last chance to nominate for captain of the Titanic?

[Holmes]

Wasn't the NDP ridiculed just earlier this year for having so many leadership candidates? Geez.

[RogueBeaver]

Running for riding nominations, I guess.

Holmes: We'll see who pays the $75k. Hopefully the debate stage isn't too cluttered.

[RogueBeaver]

Trudeau said this morning that the gun registry, so far as he's concerned, is dead.

[DC Al Fine]

Trudeau said this morning that the gun registry, so far as he's concerned, is dead.

Wow, that's the first non aggravating quip I've ever heard from him... unless he tossed back his hair, then it's still aggravating.

[RogueBeaver]

A lengthy Trudeau interview on The House.

http://www.cbc.ca/thehouse/popupaudio.html?clipIds=2311710990

[RogueBeaver]

Fundraising update: Trudeau has raised $95k, Coyne $3k. Next entry fee installment is on the 15th.

http://www.punditsguide.ca/2012/12/liberal-leadership-could-be-settled-by-fundraising/

[DC Al Fine]

Good, we should be seeing some dropouts soon.

[Orion0]

Trudeau said this morning that the gun registry, so far as he's concerned, is dead.

Wow, that's the first non aggravating quip I've ever heard from him... unless he tossed back his hair, then it's still aggravating.

For craps and giggles, Trudeau has a wonderful YouTube interview where he defends the long gun registry, and the great numbers of lives it has saved. Viewable over here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2pJVNcjuzY

And just in case that wasn't enough to decry his blatant hypocrisy and opportunism, here's a tweet from Justin himself, oh how I wish he would just go away. https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/131337935911010304

[RogueBeaver]

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy. Tamil Tiger front groups all over again.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/12/12/sponsor-of-upcoming-islamic-event-featuring-justin-trudeau-lost-charitable-status-due-to-hamas-link/

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy. Tamil Tiger front groups all over again.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/12/12/sponsor-of-upcoming-islamic-event-featuring-justin-trudeau-lost-charitable-status-due-to-hamas-link/

Hmm. How bad could this get?

[RogueBeaver]

Certain senior Liberals (Martin among them, when he was PM) have associated with TT front groups in the past. Last election there was a controversy involving Tory candidate, now MP, Wai Young getting endorsed by a man acquitted of involvement in Air India.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/wai-young-defends-herself-in-living-room-chat-1.636658


On whether this affects Trudeau: depends how much long-term traction this gets. He's personally popular at least in the Montreal Jewish community, as are Harper and Mulcair. What might well stick is yet another entry into the bad judgment file, particularly on foreign policy. Which also can be tied back into legacy.

[RogueBeaver]

Granola backlash. Not like Cauchon or Axworthy have any influence nowadays.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/progressive-liberals-alarmed-as-federal-leadership-contenders-tilt-right-183995311.html

Garneau: Ban assault weapons.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/liberal-leadership-hopeful-marc-garneau-floats-ban-on-assault-rifles-183985921.html

[RogueBeaver]

Cauchon getting in. Presumably to be the guy telling Garneau and JT "you guys are betraying TRUPROG!!!"

http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/12/20/cauchon-poised-to-enter-liberal-leadership-race/