Ignatieff: This Dog Won't Hunt

 

Thirty Liberal MPs missed another budget vote this week. Liberals are not interested in doing their job in Parliament. Political theatre and games are the tools of this political party. They are unprepared or unwilling to face the wrath of the voters.

The immigration consultants that promised him the PM job should be held responsible. His own party insiders that are putting their self-interests should be stripped of their shadow cabinet posts. Ignatieff should be allowed to debate the Prime Minister on national tv and a six week campaign.

Many of us don't believe it will do any good, we also did not buy Nortel at $ 120 a share during the Tech bubble.

Let's hope his summer tour helps pay down the leadership debts and his party does not throw him under it.

Republicans for Ignatieff here. It has been an interesting ride with him at the helm since December 2008.

I have included a few articles that alluded to the missteps in 2009. They are a good read.

Everyone agrees that Ignatieff had a lousy last couple of weeks. First, he took an entire weekend to figure out how he felt about the government's latest accountability report, then promptly laid out four ridiculous "conditions" for supporting an upcoming supply motion. He tried to play chicken with the government, and Stephen Harper plucked him bald. The Liberals have now lost virtually all of the momentum they had built up since Ignatieff took over as leader, and as some wag had it, he's gone from being "lionized" to "Dionized." Oof. Rough times for Ignatieff  June 23, 2009

There has rarely been a federal government as unpopular in Quebec as Stephen Harper's. Yet, in another ominous first for the PQ, unhappiness with the Canadian government of the day does not translate into increased support for sovereignty. PQ plan to anger us hints at desperation June 23, 2009

Ever since Trudeau left office, Canadians -- or at least, Liberals -- have been moping around waiting for a replacement, for an inspirational leader who would join the twin virtues of reflection and action to a statesman-like and principled approach to government. Philosophers make bad kings Sept 10, 2009

High Hopes

Words & Music by Sammy Cahn & Jimmy Van Heusen Recorded by Frank Sinatra, 1961

From the 1959 movie "Hole In The Head" (Academy Award Winner, Best Song) Writer(s): cahn/van heusen

Next time your found, with your chin on the ground

There a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant

Think hell move that rubber tree plant

Anyone knows an ant, cant

Move a rubber tree plant

But hes got high hopes, hes got high hopes

Hes got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your gettin low

stead of lettin go

Just remember that ant

Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call, and your backs to the wall

There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram

Thought hed punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin that dam

cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes

He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your feelin bad

stead of feelin sad

Just remember that ram

Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam

All problems just a toy balloon

Theyll be bursted soon

Theyre just bound to go pop

Oops there goes another problem kerplop

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Political Landscape Sea Change: Premiers have picked their "Winner" for 2010

"For the many Canadians who doubt that Stephen Harper has the potential to bring about trans-formative change to the country's fabric, it should be required reading." - Chantal Herbert Toronto Star November 16, 2009 The Good Bad and Ugly (on the New Citizenship Guide)

Background

In 1993 some predicted Kim Campbell would lead the PC party to victory and the Liberals under Jean Chretien would fail. Many of us for various reasons left their traditional bases and voted for the Liberals or stayed home.

Many in Western Canada and rural ridings refused to continue to support the PC party and created their own political movement to take power back from Ottawa.

The result from 1993-2000 the Liberal Party was able to benefit and exploit the problems in the opposition parties to their political advantage. In 2000 the signs of dominance for the Liberal Party started a series of events beyond their control or understanding.

2006-2009

The sea change has already taken place, many from the opposition can't comprehend that reality. They will keep moving chess pieces and pretend they are still in the game. The next federal election will be just another reminder for some stuck in the 1990's during the Liberal's decade of power.

 

The By-elections on November 9, 2009 was a tactical display that showed whose party had a REAL ground game and was effective in getting their BASE to show up. The Liberals lost ground two riding in Quebec and BC. The only riding they saw an uptick in support was the riding held by Bill Casey. Some will like to blame Denis Coderre, but those two ridings in Quebec were both Bloc seats and the NDP and the CPC both made gains as the alternative.  The "fairytale" spun by friends of the Liberals becoming the federal alternative outside their island is now officially DEAD.

 

Reality Check:

Ontario

The currentl Liberal Premier and the PM are working closely on helping Ontario through this global economic recession. Manufacturing in Ontario was hit as exports to the US fell dramatically.

The introduction of the HST, reductions in Corporate and Business Tax by the Provincial Liberals appear to be inline with the Federal Government of creating an improved investment conditions for outside investment.

The single regulator, additional 23 seats in the HOC, focused regional investments appears to have helped the Provincial Liberals in choosing the current government led by PM Stephen Harper.

It is realistic to imagine with a good campaign and ground game a pick up of 10-20 more seats in Ontario.

Reality Check:
Quebec

Jean Charest a Liberal Premier has been vocal and supportive of EAP, unhappy about the single regulator, will be unhappy about QC losing to Ontario

Stephen Harper now has two huge assets in Quebec: He made peace with the Mulroney clan, and he restored good relations with Premier Jean Charest's Liberals (who worked for Mr. Généreux, a Liberal himself).- Lysianne Gagnon Liberals' faint hope is that Tories slip. Globe & Mail November 13, 2009.

It is realistic to imagine with a good campaign and ground game of a pick up of 2-6  rural seats in Quebec. (Charest/Mulroney giving permission for their political machine help again)

Reality Check:
Newfoundland

Danny Williams has realized his ABC strategy of  had consequences. Why did the Federal Liberal MP's and NDP MP's fail to secure funding and projects for NFLD?

“If the Prime Minister reached out,” Williams told The Globe and Mail, “we would accept any kind of an olive branch.”
The feisty Premier is, however, still simmering over federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's stimulus budget. “While he was stimulating every other jurisdiction in the country,” Williams says, “he took away $1-billion to $1.5-billion. We got cooked. We got $140-million.”


But, he says, it's time to change. “I'm trying to get away from that anti-Harper mentality,” he says.
“I am saying we are here to work with the federal government at any point in time.” - Roy MacGregor Globe & Mail Peace Down East, November 15, 2009

It is realistic to imagine with a good campaign and ground game of a pick up of 1-2 seats in Newfoundland. 

Those three provinces alone can give the CPC a large majority if the voters decide to show up and cast their ballots.

'We need immigrants'

"That's why we made it a confidence motion … and we appreciate the support of the Liberals," Harper added. Bill C-50- CBC News Opposition parties target Tories on immigration tactics March 31, 2008

Canada - Parties get sophisticated in bid for immigrant vote. Pundit's Guide on Jason Kenney efforts and here.