3 former premiers may seek Liberal leadership

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA (CP) — Three former premiers — Frank McKenna, Brian Tobin and Bob Rae — could wind up vying for the federal Liberal crown.

Sources close to the trio say all three are seriously considering joining the race to succeed Paul Martin, who announced his resignation after leading the Liberals to defeat in Monday's election.

Historically, provincial premiers have never fared particularly well on the national stage. Only one has ever become prime minister — Sir John Thompson, who was PM in 1892-94 after a two-month stint as premier of Nova Scotia.

Tobin, former premier of Newfoundland, is the only one of the three with experience on the national stage. He was a federal minister of fisheries and later of industry during the Chrétien era.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1138315819506&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News

Captain Canada. You just can't keep a "rat pack" down.

[Minstrel Boy]

1. Bob Rae...

I can't wait for it. That should forever silence those who say "Vote NDP? Don't you remember what Bob Rae did to Ontario?" :evilgrin:

It'll be even better than would-be Senator Buzz Hargrove trailing Paul Martin like a lovesick puppy. He used to be our problem, too.

[Spazito]

2. Of the three, Tobin is the better one, imo

It could be an interesting leadership fight. Given the infighting between the Martin camp and the Chretien camp. My bet is Chretien will be backing Tobin as will his supporters. The Martin camp will support McKenna and the fight is back on, lol.

[Pierre Trudeau]

3. I prefer Tobin too, but...

ideally it's better if the new leader is neither a Chretienite NOR a Martinite. The party needs to define itself by a coherent philosophy, rather than by its leader.

Too often, Liberal policy has been a reflection of its leader at the time: it's fine when the leader is a Pearson or a Trudeau, but not so great when you have someone with attention-deficit disorder like Martin. Chretien also was lacking in vision, and mostly got by on management skills alone.

At this time, I recommend the party focus first on consolidating their philosophy and raison d'être, perhaps by holding a policy convention, and THEN selecting a leader who will best advance the retooled agenda.

However, among the three names listed in this topic, Brian Tobin is the one I find most suitable. Bob Rae is a good fellow and very smart, but his political resume is tainted (he'd probably be rejected by Ontario voters). Plus, he's actually accomplishing a lot more good outside of partisan politics than he ever did within.

[glarius]

4. When did Bob Rae become a Liberal?...I guess I must have missed something!

:shrug:

[V. Kid]

5. 1996

...btw that's not officially or anything. ;-)

[Minstrel Boy]

6. here's some info on that:

Rae resigned from the New Democratic Party in the late 1990s, due to his appointment to Security Intelligence Review Committee. There was some speculation that Prime Minister Jean Chrétien would appoint him Governor-General of Canada in 1999, but he was passed over in favour of Adrienne Clarkson. There was further speculation that Rae would run for the federal Liberal Party in the 2000 election, though nothing came of this at the time.

...

Rae returned to active political controversy on April 16, 2002, two days after Mike Harris resigned as premier, with an opinion piece in the National Post newspaper. In an article entitled, Parting Company with the NDP, Rae strongly criticized what he perceived as a bias against Israel in the federal party. He also criticized the NDP for rejecting Tony Blair's Third Way and for refusing to accept globalization and open markets, suggesting that the party's economic policies were insufficient for the 21st century and that the party as a whole was no longer "worthy of support".

The Ontario NDP has distanced itself from Rae's policies under the leadership of Howard Hampton. During the 2003 provincial election, Hampton argued that Rae was wrong to reverse the NDP's commitment to public auto insurance. The party's relations with the labour movement have not completely healed, although the situation has improved since 1993. Relations with the CAW remain especially fraught, and memories of the social contract have hurt the NDP's credibility with a new generation of public sector workers, despite the party's efforts to distance itself from the measure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Rae

[MrPrax]

7. I really wasn't going to reply...

when I saw your first post, then you posted this. So I had to...

Oh man, your an intelligent supporter and I have enjoyed many of your posts...but please, don't even bother 'spinning' this one.

You are saying your biggest joy will come when you tell people that Bob Rae wasn't REALLY NDP, right?

So your not worried that people might start to ask, 'so who else is liberal, huh?'...

So the NDP is the Liberal's farm team basically?

These defections really don't inspire a whole lot of confidence in them and if one knows the history of the CCF/NDP, these defections hit hard especially on the point of 'dual' party status.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. Hazen Argue

Before my time, but he was the last leader of the federal CCF before the first NDP convention. Ran against Tommy Douglas and was trounced. Six months later crossed to the Liberals, and lost his re-election bid. Was appointed to the Senate shortly thereafter.

You're welcome to Argue, Rae, Dosanjh and Chris Axworthy. Oh, and Belinda, Lapierre, Keith Martin and Scott Brison. The middle's too crowded for my liking.

[jackbourassa]

9. Am I the only one who thinks Rae would be awesome?

I like the guy. He began his career in federal politics. He's actually been a Liberal for a while now - since the late 90s. He helped make David Peterson Premier in 1985. Helped bring down the Tories in 1979/1980. His brother was an advisor to Chretien. He speaks perfect french. He was an NDP Premier for 5 years in Ontario.

Rae may be just what the Liberals need. His social policies, and lack of ties to the Liberals scandals would be a HUGE PLUS in Quebec where the Libs desperately need rebuilding. He might break into the NDP support which came entirely at the expense of the Liberals in the last election. This is definitely something he should seriously consider. He has a good shot here especially if Tobin doesn't do it. McKenna will get the righties to support him. Rae would get the lefties.

I personally think Rae would be an excellent choice. An excellent Prime Minister.

[MrPrax]

10. I am not a liberal...

Couldn't vote liberal anymore than I would root for a Toronto sports team...it's a western DNA thing.

But the again it would seem that New Dems have a problem spotting liberals...it seems odd you would take such a narrow view here given what goes into a leadership campaign in any party.

You also take the dual party membership a little lightly--many good people in the NDP were purged and destroyed for even the slightest hint they had memberships in commie affliated parties or were even affliated with commie backed unions for decades.

Rae, Harcourt, Romanov all came in with this Third Way horseshit and a lot of people who were in the NDP fought this goofey nonsense. This shit even spilled into the federal scene with the choice of Audrey over Barrett...remember. That was the end of the NDP, dude.

Essentially you are misreading the implications of this...the party your defending is the legacy of these liberals who obviously were never really a part of the progressive social movement. Since New Dems choose liberals themselves, why exactly would anyone choose them. Policies?

The NDP in the last thirty years can't claim ownership of any substantive legislation or even major issue...man, oh man