NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, against odds, Stephan Dion looks poised to give Ignatieff a strong run on the final ballot, after coming out on top in the third ballot.

This convention has had some good moments so far. Pehaps it signals a more intelectual turn in Liberal politics. Dion is a type of anti-politician that refreshs the field. As Rex Murphy so eloquently said he has a "soft charisma" that isn't in your face, takes a bit to get to know, but can sustain itself.

Here's to Stephan! *clink*

Well, against odds, Stephan Dion looks poised to give Ignatieff a strong run on the final ballot, after coming out on top in the third ballot.

This convention has had some good moments so far. Pehaps it signals a more intelectual turn in Liberal politics. Dion is a type of anti-politician that refreshs the field. As Rex Murphy so eloquently said he has a "soft charisma" that isn't in your face, takes a bit to get to know, but can sustain itself.

Here's to Stephan! *clink*
The Liberals also have an unwritten rule that suggests alternating leaders between English and French. Martin, Chretien, Turner, Trudeau, Pearson, St. Laurent, Mackenzie King, Laurier, Blake.

Dion might make a good leader, but I don't see him as a Prime Minister. I do like him better then Ignatieff. Rae is perhaps the best shot at being PM.

My two cents ou deux cents.

We can only hope. Ignatieff is just a bit too American, a bit too ready for war and torture. My support is definately with Dion at this point.

The Liberals also have an unwritten rule that suggests alternating leaders between English and French. Martin, Chretien, Turner, Trudeau, Pearson, St. Laurent, Mackenzie King, Laurier, Blake.

Dion might make a good leader, but I don't see him as a Prime Minister. I do like him better then Ignatieff. Rae is perhaps the best shot at being PM.

My two cents ou deux cents.True, that has indeed been the trend, but I don't think it need be a dictat. Besides, it was Chretien and then Martin, who is ambiguously an Ontarian/Quebecer.

I think Dion is a far more interesting exactly because of his low "winnability" factor. He isn't a flashy guy, he isn't a gladhander. What he is is extremely likable, respected, inteligent, and experienced. He has incredible battle scars, and his focus on the environment are commendable. He's got fantastic policies, and he's become a solid, if unconventional politician in the last little while.

If Dion were to win, I'd vote Liberal. No one else, other than Kennedy is suited for the job.

I've been watching this convention, and it has gotten more and more interesting. I am a firm supporter of Dion, but I honestly didn't expect him to get this far. Hell, I thought Bob Rae would be the in the final 2. Good for him, though, because I don't want the next leader to be someone that's been living in England for the past 30 years, and only just been elected this past election, and supports American foreign policies *cough*torture, iraq war*cough*. So, vive Stephane Dion!:D

I've been watching this convention, and it has gotten more and more interesting. I am a firm supporter of Dion, but I honestly didn't expect him to get this far. Hell, I thought Bob Rae would be the in the final 2. Good for him, though, because I don't want the next leader to be someone that's been living in England for the past 30 years, and only just been elected this past election, and supports American foreign policies *cough*torture, iraq war*cough*. So, vive Stephane Dion!:D

I thought he'd been living in the US?

True, that has indeed been the trend, but I don't think it need be a dictat. Besides, it was Chretien and then Martin, who is ambiguously an Ontarian/Quebecer.

I think Dion is a far more interesting exactly because of his low "winnability" factor. He isn't a flashy guy, he isn't a gladhander. What he is is extremely likable, respected, inteligent, and experienced. He has incredible battle scars, and his focus on the environment are commendable. He's got fantastic policies, and he's become a solid, if unconventional politician in the last little while.
Dion's best work was on disfusing the separatists time bomb. He was presented with a huge problem and acquitted himself quite well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_Dion#Views_on_Federalism_and_National_Unity

He may very well be best suited to keeping Quebec within Canada, as long as the rest of Canadians see that as a priority.

I thought he'd been living in the US?

He was a professor at Harvard. Enrosol just got his info mixed up.

He was a professor at Harvard. Enrosol just got his info mixed up.

Okay, good. I was very proud of being able to answer the question when, while looking at a political cartoon about Ignatieff and the constitution, my History teacher asked where he'd been for the last several years. I totally pwned all the debate club people, who think they're all that.

Dion's best work was on disfusing the separatists time bomb. He was presented with a huge problem and acquitted himself quite well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_Dion#Views_on_Federalism_and_National_Unity

He may very well be best suited to keeping Quebec within Canada, as long as the rest of Canadians see that as a priority.
To be honest, I've heard the opposite spin more often. Though Dion has absoloute credibility on the unity portfolio, he isn't necessarily popular in Quebec. The Bloc made big gains in the last elections, and whether Dion can reverse that and get Quebecers back to their natural Liberal home, is a big question. Personally I think he can, since most of the support for the Bloc was a reaction to corruption, not a statement on seperatism. Now Dion's record is squeaky clean, and he is know to have absoloute integrity.

He was a professor at Harvard. Enrosol just got his info mixed up.He spent time in England too, under hte tutelage of the philosopher Isaiah Berlin.

He spent time in England too, under hte tutelage of the philosopher Isaiah Berlin.
Michael Ignatieff's support for the war in Iraq is a huge turnoff and his recent foot in mouth comment about the Israeli/Lebanon situation suggests to me that he is a definite liability for Canadians.

Okay, good. I was very proud of being able to answer the question when, while looking at a political cartoon about Ignatieff and the constitution, my History teacher asked where he'd been for the last several years. I totally pwned all the debate club people, who think they're all that.
Huh. He did live in England for atleast some of those 30 years, right? I heard he taught at Oxford, so he must've spent some time there.

Huh. He did live in England for atleast some of those 30 years, right? I heard he taught at Oxford, so he must've spent some time there.
You are correct (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ignatieff):

Ignatieff was based in the United Kingdom from 1978 to 2000. During this time he was on the faculty at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities and worked as a film-maker and political commentator for the BBC. He lived in the United States from 2000 to 2005 where he was director of Harvard's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. He returned to Canada in 2005 to take a position at the University of Toronto and enter politics.

Michael Ignatieff's support for the war in Iraq is a huge turnoff and his recent foot in mouth comment about the Israeli/Lebanon situation suggests to me that he is a definite liability for Canadians.His foreign policy is at odds with the mainstream Liberal opinion, that holds that Chretien made the right decision. I wouldn't term Ignatieff as a liability, but I presume the foot-in-mouth syndrome is simply a result of innexperience and making the transition from being a free-thinking free-speaking academic to being a public figure and staying on-message.

Well folks, it's official. Stephan Dion is the new leader of the Liberal party, and the next Prime Minister of Canada (I should hope)

I just can't wipe the grin off my face.

Well folks, it's official. Stephan Dion is the new leader of the Liberal party, and the next Prime Minister of Canada (I should hope)

I just can't wipe the grin off my face.

I have to say, I'm incredibly relieved. I was really, really scared that Ignatieff was going to take over the world, via the Liberal Party.

Well, guys, this doesn't bode very well for the Liberals in Québec. Stéphane Dion is really disliked over here. I really don't think he'll get us to vote for him.

I hope this means good news for the NDP in Québec, because I won't vote for Dion, I won't vote for conservatives, and I won't vote for the bloc because I want my province to stay in Canada. By elimination, I guess I know who to vote for during the next federal elections, which shouldn't be so long in coming, now that the libs have a new leader.

Well, guys, this doesn't bode very well for the Liberals in Québec. Stéphane Dion is really disliked over here. I really don't think he'll get us to vote for him.

I hope this means good news for the NDP in Québec, because I won't vote for Dion, I won't vote for conservatives, and I won't vote for the bloc because I want my province to stay in Canada. By elimination, I guess I know who to vote for during the next federal elections, which shouldn't be so long in coming, now that the libs have a new leader.Out of curiosity, why do federalist Quebecers dislike Dion? He fought hard for federalism throughout his career. He supported the recent "nation in a united canada" motion (idiotic though it may be) and he had no part in the whole sponsorship debacle. What's the beef?

Perhaps we'll see another Frenchman put this country back on the right track.
Gawd I miss Chrétien! :p

Perhaps we'll see another Frenchman put this country back on the right track.
Gawd I miss Chrétien! :p
I miss him a bit myself. As a child of the 90's he'll always be the quintissential Prime Minister to me. Watching his speech today reminded me how dynamic he is. He's a sharp guy, anyway.