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John Godfrey leaving politics
- Thread starter King of Kensington
- Start date
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
Does this mean all the students at TFS will have to wear kilts now?
adma
Superstar
Would this be a cue for Pinball Clemons as a Harper Tory star candidate?
King of Kensington
Senior Member
It's a pretty Liberal seat these days although it's probably the most of the 2 or 3 most winnable seats in the 416. Stephen Harper has roots in the riding too.
The Tories have a low-profile candidate there who ran last time. Will he step aside for Clemons? Somehow I don't see John Tory taking a second stab at it, especially given that he emphasizes he's a Progressive Conservative.
The Tories have a low-profile candidate there who ran last time. Will he step aside for Clemons? Somehow I don't see John Tory taking a second stab at it, especially given that he emphasizes he's a Progressive Conservative.
Ahab
New Member
I'd be pretty surprised if this riding goes Conservative. Since a fairly progressive John Tory could not win there, anyone representing the Conservative party would have a pretty hard time. I think the demographics of the riding have changed considerably over the years - especially the part south of Lawrence and north of the train tracks. A lot of young people who lived downtown have moved into areas such as Leaside (where Harper once lived) to start families. They generally don't vote Conservative.
Hypnotoad
Senior Member
Article today suggested that the ousted Tory candidate from Toronto Centre might switch parties and run in this riding as a Liberal.
Ahab
New Member
That's interesting. I thought that guy might run in Riverdale for the Liberals. Guess we'll see.
Observer Walt
Senior Member
Godfrey seemed like one of the good guys in Ottawa, sorry he's leaving.
allabootmatt
Senior Member
I suspect if Warner from Toronto Centre gets a Liberal nomination it will be in a no-hope riding, like Danforth, rather than a lock like DVW. As much as he should be brought into the fold as a gesture to make it clear that progressives in the Conservative Party are welcome with the Grits, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to hand a constituency over to someone who was on the other side until a month ago.
King of Kensington
Senior Member
Maybe Warner personally has enough integrity to insist on a democratic nomination, although the Liberals have the worst record by far in terms of preventing them.
Of course Warner would rather run in Don Valley West than Danforth. DVW has gone Liberal by very wide margins since 1993. Danforth is held by Jack Layton and I don't see him being defeated anytime soon.
Of course Warner would rather run in Don Valley West than Danforth. DVW has gone Liberal by very wide margins since 1993. Danforth is held by Jack Layton and I don't see him being defeated anytime soon.
unimaginative2
Senior Member
That's hardly true. The Tories won't let anyone run against an incumbent. They've also "fired" several nominated candidates with no reason given. The Liberals have their share of interference in nominations, but there's no comparison.
King of Kensington
Senior Member
As far as I know, the NDP and Bloc never prevent democratic nominations. I'd still say the Liberals are worse than the Tories about appointing candidates - Dion has continued this tradition in Quebec (i.e. running the disastrous Coulon in Outremont byelection and appointing Garneau in Westmount) and Ken Dryden represents an ultra-safe Liberal riding that hasn't had a democratic nomination in years (his predecessor Art Eggleton was also appointed). I've always wondered why the Libs never used this power in Scarborough Southwest, which was represented by the fundamentally illiberal Tom Wappel (who really fits in the Myron Thompson wing of the CPC).
I guess one could argue firing candidates chosen by an elected nomination is qualitatively worse than just appointing a "star" candidate and avoiding the process altogether, but neither practices are acceptable in my view.
I guess one could argue firing candidates chosen by an elected nomination is qualitatively worse than just appointing a "star" candidate and avoiding the process altogether, but neither practices are acceptable in my view.
billonlogan
Active Member
Seems like everyday all we hear about is another current Lib MP retiring or leaving altogether. I suspect most are leaving because they can't stomach the fact they will be in Opposition for another 4-5 years.
299 bloor call control.
Senior Member
Billonlogan: to repeat something you said in another thread --
okay, wake up now.
okay, wake up now.
unimaginative2
Senior Member
Yeah, it just couldn't be because most of the ones retiring have been there for 14 years or more and they maybe just want to retire or do something different...