Dion « Blue Like You

Archive of posts filed under the Dion category.

The Party of the ‘Wet Noodle’ continues to lose its grip

Posted by Joanne on 11 June 2010, 8:35 am

Oh my.

Watching the Michael Ignatieff ‘leadership’ train wreck is somewhat entertaining but also so sad. The Liberal party is anything but unified and is now in danger of complete implosion.

In today’s National Post Scott Stinson examines the Yays and Nays of who might be leading the Liberals into the next election. His analysis of Mr. Ziffy is painfully right on the money:

Yay Well, he is the leader. Plus he was basically acclaimed to the job, and he hasn’t even run an election campaign, so you could forgive him if he feels he might as well stick around for a while.

Nay He doesn’t appear to rule his caucus with an iron fist so much as a wet noodle, with hardly a day going by without one MP or another telling the media that the leader is less than inspiring. At least university students would show him a little respect.

The problem with the Liberals is that they continue to look for that Messiah that will lead them out of the Opposition Darkness and back into the light of power and control.

But they still haven’t given themselves the chance to do some serious introspection regarding why Canadians would want to vote for them. If they are still relying on the Liberal brand, they are in bigger trouble than merely having a wet noodle for a leader.

A Conservative Majority would actually be a blessing in disguise for the Liberals because it would give them that badly needed opportunity to regroup without being constantly on the edge of their seats – or vacated from them in order to prop up a Government they despise.

* * * *

Saturday Update

Liberal turncoats harming both Ignatieff and party itself – Lorrie Goldstein:

…The way it looks now is if Ignatieff can’t run his own party, how can he run the country?

It’s ironic Liberals complain Harper runs the Conservative party with an iron fist, which he does.

Ironic, because all you have to do is look at the constant warfare inside the Liberal party, and how it’s wounded Ignatieff, to understand why Harper is a control freak.

It’s because he knows to be effective, the leader first has to be in control.

Exactly.

Hébert: Rift grows between Chrétien and Ignatieff – Star

Filed under Bloc, Bob Rae, CPC majority solution, Coalition of the swilling, Dion, Election fever, Goldstein, Harper best PM ever, Harper smartest PM ever, Iffy, Iggo Waffles, Iggy, Iggyssiah, Jack Layton, Liberal Party of Donolo, Liberal Party of Toronto, Liberal arrogance, Liberal entitlement, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper, The LPC is dysfunctional, Voter cynicism, democracy.

74 Comments

Busted!

Posted by Joanne on 27 May 2009, 10:12 pm

Steve Murphy found guilty of posing a confusing question.

Now, if Iggy were leader then, what would he have said regarding that question that Mr. Dion had not said?

Or do you need a retake Do-Over? (*)

Filed under Canadian Politics, Dion, Iggyssiah.

28 Comments

Please enlighten me!

Posted by Joanne on 2 August 2008, 7:57 am

I must be spending way too much time out in the sun this summer (when it hasn’t been raining). I just finished reading Michael Den Tandt’s piece, "It’s Time for Dion to Stand up and Fight ", and am deeply troubled.

O.K. The title seems reasonable. A so-called leader can only back down a finite number of times before losing all credibility.

However, this paragraph is what’s bothering me:

As Dion gauges his timing, he’ll be given pause by the Liberals’ continuing financial woes. But he’ll be buoyed by the generally positive press his Green Shift has gotten this summer. He knows that economic slowdowns are ripe with possibility for opposition parties. And, he’ll be sick and tired of being taunted.

I would really appreciate it if my Liberal friends can provide some links to relevant polls and news articles. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

I must try to be more attentive.

* * * *

Update: So far, all I’ve been able to come up with to substantiate his claim is this – Harper hist a snag. Strangely enough, it’s by the same columnist.

Funny that…

Please check out the comments following this bit of Star propaganda – Bring on fall election, Liberals say. And note the use of the word "hurled" in the Star’s ‘news’ story. (H/T to Alberta Girl).

Reid seems a bit perturbed with Den Tandt too. Glad I’m not the only one.

Related: And if the parents won’t listen to the Green Rhetoric, you can always work on the kids – Children enlisted as ‘Climate Cops’.

* * * *

Sunday Update: Phantom Observer has a great post up that was listed at Jack’s Daily Blogger site – Diebel Decodes an Undeliberate Dion.

Filed under Carbon Shaft, Dion, Election fever, Green Shaft.

26 Comments

Dion’s Dilemma

Posted by Joanne on 30 July 2008, 8:35 am

If my (admittedly unscientific) poll is any indication, the Tories are wise to focus on the economy as the main issue during their upcoming summer retreat.

An overwhelming majority (83%) of respondents named the economy as their most serious concern right now. Crime came in second at 10%, then "other" (which I had mentioned could include health although it is mainly a provincial area), then finally the Environment with only 2% and poverty with no votes at all.

Environmental concerns seem to fade as a priority when the amount of green in our wallets is threatened.

Today’s Post column by Don Martin provides an insightful perspective on the strategies and dynamics at play as both major parties examine their electoral positioning and potential for the fall (No better time than now for the Liberals):

…Mr. Harper is expected to gloat at being handed the perfect campaign weapon with which to eviscerate the Liberals– Mr. Dion’s $15-billion carbon tax is a tough sell to an electorate that doesn’t believe it will get it back, as promised, in tax rebates.

But as news of four-digit layoffs become a gloomy fixture in the headlines, and giant slabs of Arctic ice break free as an alleged result of man-made climate change, there’s an alignment of economic and environmental circumstances coming together for the Liberals.

That’s why this fall must be the moment when the Liberals finally put the testosterone into its writ-dropping muscle instead of delivering another three months of weak-kneed runaway voting.

To continue its series of abstentions, walkouts and token opposition MP turnouts, all choreographed to duck an election, makes a mockery of a leader who deems this government unfit to lead a nation quivering on the edge of a recession and failing to clean up an environment he says endangers the planet.

To continue playing the parliamentary soundtrack of silly committee obstructions against never-ending leadership popularity polls and nonstop election speculation will crank the House of Commons into a crescendo of political irrelevance, if it hasn’t already…

Yet if Dion cares more about his own neck than the party, he might be inclined to force his caucus to continue its role as Her Majesty’s Loyal Seat-warmers and Abstainers until Oct. 2009.

Hunter explains the strategy here, but she frames it as a question of Dion’s intelligence:

That means Dion would be smart to wait until Oct 2009, by then people might have forgotten his green shaft. Only remaining question, how smart is Dion?? HA!

Personally, I see it more as a question of whose best interests he’ll put first – his own or the party’s?

* * * *

Update: ‘Fish or cut bait,’ Harper dares Dion about election. (Globe)

Filed under Dion, Election fever.

33 Comments

Give me one quick election with a side of popcorn and beer

Posted by Joanne on 23 July 2008, 11:23 am

I find it so amusing how Stephane Dion has the power to discern whether or not Canadians want an election. (Dion: Canadians hungry for an election.)

Up until now, he was sure that we didn’t, but apparently he foresees that we very likely will have an appetite for an election in the fall – unless of course the by-election results are not favourable to the Liberals.

And I love those references to ‘appetite’ and ‘hungry’ for an election.

The way food prices are going up, that may be all we end up with on our plates.

* * * *

Update : The Phantom Observer – Summer By-Elections: The CBC is running Candidates.

And Alberta Ardvark has a great post up: Dion confirms what MHF said about the greenshift.

* * * *

Update: – Stephane Dion’s midsummer night’s election dream, by Kelly MacParland.

Peterborough Politics: When communication goes wrong.

Steve Janke: Stephane Dion selling the carbon tax.

Filed under Dion, Election fever, Liberal arrogance.

21 Comments

Jumping on the Brantwagon

Posted by Joanne on 21 July 2008, 4:57 pm

The Ontario NDP party is now increasing the pressure on Julian Fantino by calling for him to either resign or be fired.

This significantly ups the ante from just a few days ago when Shawn Brant’s lawyer had simply asked for Fantino to be temporarily suspended and that his comments be investigated.

My poll is still active but I may need another one to reflect this new development.

Meanwhile, do you think Julian Fantino should be suspended?

* * * *

Update: OPP head defends tactics in defusing 2007 aboriginal protest. (Globe)

Welcome CBC readers! Please vote here! (Even though the poll can’t keep up with the story!). Thanks.

Tuesday Update: Christina Blizzard has a great column in this morning’s Sun – McGuinty is right to back top cop:

…McGuinty must stand by Fantino, or risk provoking a thousand anarchists across the province.

And shame on New Democrat Peter Kormos for calling Fantino, "bellicose," "pugilistic," and "inflammatory."

Someone’s being inflammatory — and it isn’t Fantino.

I’m not always on the top cop’s side. But in this one, his personal intervention in the all-night negotiations saved the province from what could have been a bloodbath.

Suspension? I don’t think so. Give Fantino a medal.

Thank you, Christina. You can cast your vote right here.

Filed under Dion, Native Issues, Two-tiered justice.

4 Comments

Following the Green Brick Road over the cliff

Posted by Joanne on 22 June 2008, 7:56 am

As Don Martin so eloquently notes , Stephane Dion assisted the Conservatives in passing many substantive bills, and was also instrumental in helping this minority government attain the distinction of "having just beaten the record to become the longest minority reign since the election of 1921."

Dion’s amazing ability to decide when Canadians would not want an election has generated the following Harper accomplishments:

…Having backed away from repeated government invitations to trigger an election –the Throne Speech, budget, Afghan mission extension, crime bills, immigration amendments and even footdragging by the Senate– the Liberals have opted to spend the summer campaigning for a carbon tax instead of their own mandate.

In doing so, they’ve surrendered the best scenario for gaining ground to hopes that an economic downturn in the fall will backlash against the government, a rather morbid plan…

And if you want more highlights, check out Sandy’s list.

However, now that the pressure of having to decide whether or not to bring down the government is safely over for at least the summer, the Wizard of Ozttawa seems to have finally granted Stephane a pair. (Sorry, Garth. Was that offensive?)

Cocky Dion is now challenging Stephen Harper to a televised debate.

Now this is the kind of thing one usually does during an election campaign. However, since Stephane doesn’t seem to want Canadians apparently don’t want an election during any season, this seems rather strange. Who would watch? Who would care?

If Canadians don’t want an election, why would they waste their time indoors watching a debate?

Maybe the Wizard should have concentrated on refining Stephane’s brain instead. He seems to lack a certain je ne sais quoi. Of course in the original story, the Lion and the Straw Man learned that they already had what they were seeking all along.

What’s that old expression? (Sorry, Garth.)

* * * *

Somewhat Related Update: Star – Fixing the world by the numbers.

Greg Weston : Dion goes for whiz and shift – Sun. (Honestly, I didn’t steal your idea, Mr. Weston!)

Lorrie Goldstein: It’s about votes, not Mother Earth – Sun.

Randall Denley – Carbon caps vs. intensity targets: discuss. (Ottawa Citizen)

* * * *

Monday Update: Matt from ASTTR has a shifty new widget for you.

And from comments – The Librano$ are BAAaack!

Nik Nanos – Dions’ risky move: