I'm still smiling this morning. Here's why:
#10. Stéphane Dion is a worthy opponent for Stephen Harper. Anyone else would have been a cake-walk. Today's Sun Editorial warns the CPC not to underestimate M. Dion. This will work in favour of the Conservatives in the long run, because complacency and over-confidence are the enemies of a successful election campaign.
#9. Although Bob Rae had an abysmal record as the NDP Premier of Ontario, he might have garnered enough misguided support between Liberal Lemmings and soft NDP voters to win the next election. And that would have been the end of Canada's economy. In a word, whew!!
#8. Dion's anglais is worse than Harper's français. (but Chretien still is the champ of that contest).
#7. Western separation threats will not be diffused by Dion. This is good for the CPC because it allows Harper to pander to Quebec to a certain extent. Dion could never get away with that.
#6. Plus ça change, plus ça reste la même. Dion was there all the time under Chretien's and Martin's Regimes of Entitlement. So this is the Liberal Party starting fresh?
#5. The Star had endorsed Bob Rae and then Red Tory did too. (My glee requires no explanation if you are a regular reader here.)
#4. If Dion actually does become PM it would not necessarily be the end of the world ( ergo - Win-Win). The thought of a Harvard egghead trying to run Canada would have been a disaster; as would have dippy Bob Rae. Gerard Kennedy? Well maybe after he starts shaving.
#3. Unless Stéphane is talking about smog, the word "clarity" holds little significance anywhere west of Montreal.
#2. Stéphane Dion has nothing to be proud of regarding the fact that Greenhouse Gas Emissions went up 35% under his watch as Environment Minister. Therefore I fully expect David McGuinty to ask the following question in the H. of C. next time the Kyoto issue comes up: "Stéphane - What about your dog?"
And the Number One reason why I'm ecstatic that Stéphane Dion is the new Liberal leader:
Bush will have someone else to call "Steve"!
20 comments:
Reason #1 actually made me LOL. That's good stuff.
On #6, however, we diverge a little. Though Dion was indeed a Cabinet minister during both Chretien and Martin's tenures, and a very important one at that (Clarity Act is one of his big landmark pieces of legislation), he maintained enough distance from them that he is free of the taint associated with that era. He's a man of integrity, very low key, and wasn't tied up in the sponsorship stuff.
Overcoming #2 will be his greatest challenge. Rona Ambrose must be thrilled that Dion won because it will take some of the unfair heat that's been placed on her off and shift it to Dion. The Tory agenda-setters will see to that.
lol! Thanks, RGM. This was fun.
He's a man of integrity, very low key, and wasn't tied up in the sponsorship stuff. Yes, I actually agree with you, and I respect M. Dion. His Clarity Act was indeed important. I guess my point is that the optics may be different. He will have to educate Canadians on the facts.
Rona Ambrose must be thrilled that Dion won because it will take some of the unfair heat that's been placed on her off and shift it to Dion. He is certainly vulnerable in this area. I can't wait for QP to resume.
Excellent, Jo!
Do we know for sure that Dion wasn't tied up with AdScam? He was, after all, a senior minister in Quebec who designed the plan which brought many soft-separatists back from Chretien's disastrous response to the referendum. I find it very hard to believe Dion stood in the middle of the trough and not only didn't partake but didn't notice...
Thanks, Mac! Always feels good to be appreciated.
I think Dion may have taken the attitude of many senior Liberal ministers in the bad old days: Tell me no secrets and I'll tell you no lies.
Wilfull blindness.
He will have to educate Canadians on the facts.
Most definitely. This is, from time to time, the greatest challenge for any politician in this country. Couple that with the importance separating fact from spin, and it can be a very difficult chore.
Good list, Joanne.
RGM said at Sun Dec 03, 10:53:44 AM EST:
«(Clarity Act is one of his big landmark pieces of legislation)»
As usual, Liberals get the credit for work or ideas introduced by others.
Free Trade? GST? Clarity Act?
If the Liberals win the next election (shudder) they will most certainly take the credit for the softwood lumber deal.
http://www.answers.com/topic/clarity-act
«The motivation behind the Clarity Act was largely based on the near separation vote of the 1995 Quebec referendum, in which the people of Quebec voted against the sovereignty option by a razor-thin margin (50.58% to 49.42%). Many federalists in Ottawa were caught off-guard by the results and believed that the referendum had been carried out illegally. The Clarity Act was based largely on the Quebec Contingency Act, a Private Member's Bill introduced by Stephen Harper.»
Omigosh, Gabby! LMAO! (Sorry Mom) Where do you get this stuff? This is awesome!!!
Thats funny Joaane. Both HM PM and the leader of HM Loyal opposition are Steve!
I love Gabby's coimments, but it is not a surporise, the fiberals stole Reform policies all the time. They decided to balance the budget after Trudeau spent us into oblivion.
I had read a column by Licia Corbella some time ago to the effect that Mr. Harper was the one who had actually written the Clarity Act, but I had not found the Hansard record of it until today.
http://tinyurl.com/y94l4h
Although Mr. Dion appears to be more honest than previous Liberal leaders, I'm still very skeptical ... Can a tiger change its stripes?
Nothing gets by you, Gabby! That is one powerful Ace in the Hole. Dion's one big accomplishment was supposed to be the Clarity Act! This is hilarious!!!
Roy Eappen said...
Thats funny Joaane. Both HM PM and the leader of HM Loyal opposition are Steve!
I love Gabby's coimments, but it is not a surporise, the fiberals stole Reform policies all the time. They decided to balance the budget after Trudeau spent us into oblivion.
I do have to say, I like it when the government is willing to take good policy from sources outside of their caucus. I wish Harper would do more of this :P
Johanne:
I agree -- Dion has been underestimated throughout the Liberal campaign; it would be folly for the CPC to underestimate him, too.
On the environment: Dion wasn't environment minister for very long... while his record shows virtually "nothing" that indicates his newfound love for green clothing, I doubt it will be damning.
I hope more Tories have the foresight you do Joanne.
What's great about this post is you don't underestimate anyone and you don't viciously attack Dion.
I'm hoping for a clean race, one where each party understands everyone is in this to better Canada, but that each party offers a different take on how better to do so.
Nobody should underestimate Dion... because I recall a young 4th year poli sci major (me) who upon hearing Harper won the leadership of the new CPC in 2004, said "are you kidding? Wow, Cons will get creamed next election."
We all remember Martin's juggernaught minority in 2004 and then his booting from office in 2006, so nobody should discount Dion yet.
great post Joanne, some good thinking for sure.
Thank you Riley. From you this is a great honour.
Still thinking about your question about the SSM proposal. I've been having some fun at RT's but still not quite ready to do a post.
stephane dion, I agree, totally, is the best option and I agree with every point you make (the last was great!)...
on the cabinet minister thing, I'd add:
you can't be innocent of everything that happened in cabinet and then ask for credit for being part of that cabinet.
example: he's Mr. Quebec/National Unity while the sponsorship program is all the rage in Liberal fundraising circles. So what exactly did he do in intergovernmental affairs? Rip off Harper and write some letters?
if you're innocent of everything its because you're innocent.
Dion looks better in t hongs than I do....
Ny kast oist on Dion and the Steophens was that the twi are more similar than we think. I was happy to have policy deabtes , than the fiberals just attacking us for beingscary. The Tories have kept sevral fuberal things intact, They keep the good and throw out the bad.
Steve wroting the Clarity Act, that explains a bit. Such as why he called Stephane about the nation notion.
After all this time what has Dion done with Kyoto?
I think he's taught him to sit.
the other can actually speak without it
As long as English Canada is given subtitles.
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