The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Liberals and Leadership A lot has and will be written about the Liberal leadership race to replace Paul Martin. Martin, who did everything he could to undermine Jean Chretien well before Chretien stepped down, had a stranglehold on the party executive and most riding officials. When Martin announced he was quitting on election night in January, there wasn't exactly a rush to the podium of would-be successors. In fact, most high-profile Liberals quickly ruled themselves out. The best candidate to say no was former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna, the retiring Ambassador to the U.S. McKenna would have been hard to beat, but he said he wasn't interested and in his parting remarks attacked Martin for anti-American comments during the election campaign. McKenna insists that not only did Martin seriously hurt Canadian-American relations, but also harmed Canadian interests, especially the softwood lumber issue, which had been close to being solved. Frank would have made a good, credible leader. Who is left? We have admitted former Tory Scott Brison, who ran for the P.C. Party leadership then switched to the Liberals and accepted a cabinet position. Why Brison thinks he can win the leadership is beyond comprehension. What about the other Tory switcher, Belinda Stronach, who also ran for the Conservative leadership then accepted a cabinet post from Martin for her vote that saved the Liberals for at least a few months? Apparently the lady with billions of daddy's dollars has set up a team, which includes Reg Alcock, the unlamented former Manitoba Liberal boss. What about former NDP Ontario premier Bob Rae? Rae had one term and is generally considered the poorest premier in the history of Ontario. He is apparently considering running, but electing him is too much of a stretch. Others will come in the race but there doesn't appear to be a "saviour" of the party on the horizon And this writer hasn't forgotten about two Liberals who have also been touted for leader Ð Michael Ignatieff and Ken Dryden. Ignatieff, the Harvard scholar, barely won his seat, doesn't seem to have a following and will be dogged by a lot of his previous writings, which are not Liberal Party stuff. Still, he could surprise in a field of non-leaders. Dryden, on the other hand, was a great goaltender but a less-than-enthusiastic and skilled politician. Dryden dislikes the give and take in the Commons and has constantly missed Question Period. NDP leader Jack Layton recently reverted back to his "Wacko Jacko" status with his proposal to have a debate and Commons vote on Canada's role in Afghanistan Ð an idea Foreign Minister Peter MacKay and Stephen Harper firmly rejected. The year-long commitment as head of the NATO forces there was made by the Liberals last April. The time to have a debate was then, but Jack didn't say a word, as he was too busy propping up the Martin gang to get in the NDP budget (little of which ever got in.) With the soldiers in the field and rising casualties, now is the time to show them solid support in the War on Terrorism, not to debate whether to send them home. Canada would be the laughing stock of NATO if that happened. Jacko is worried that Canada may be following Bush-like war thinking and is showing his anti-Americanism. He is showing the same lack of leadership that surfaced in his rigid dealing with Bev Desjarlais on the gay marriage issue, which cost the NDP the Churchill seat. As The Reminder reported, Bev is now working for the Tories and it is really all Layton's fault! Stephen Harper's surprise three-day visit to the front in Afghanistan was a real public relations winner. He lived with the troops and showed his solid support for them and the cause. With more Canadian deaths it is hard to say if the country's resolve will follow. Afghanistan is a real wild and tough country with little respect for democracy. Good luck on this one, Stephen! The Liberals have a "Gang of 10" running for the leadership at this writing, with lots of time to go before the event. How will it turn out? Much more to come. Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
