kEiThZ
Superstar
I wouldn't characterize it like that. My point wasn't that Kennedy's heart is still in Manitoba, its that he understands the politics of the piraries having grown up there. When you grow up in a certain area, it helps you understand the dynamic of that region. Its helped Harper connect with Ontario outside Toronto, afterall.
Manitoba is hardly all conservative as they have an NDP government. I emphasize again that I don't put extreme weight in geographics, but to have a leader like Kennedy who understands what is needed outside the GTA and understand what is needed inside the GTA is a net positive for everyone.
Wow. You really don't understand Canada. In the West the NDP is the left alternative to the Conservatives. It's not that Manitoba is more to the left. This is largely a hanger-on from from the NDP's past. And if you look at the NDP's policies in the west you'll see that they are not very left wing at all.
These other names people keep mentioning do not make me feel energetic about the future. Kennedy brings an energy these other guys don't have.
Becuase it'll take a lot more than energy to beat the Conservatives.... There needs to be renewal within the Liberal Party. They have to become a national party again. I for one am skeptical that would happen with Kennedy. Just because he's from Manitoba that does not mean he'll be viewed as a westerner out West. He'll have to come with policies that the west prefers...which incidentally are ones that TMV residents and Quebecers might not support.
McKenna? He's Deputy Chair at TD Bank. He's also 60. He fits into the mold of the Liberals carrying another economically conservative, out of touch candidate who doesn't understand the needs of the voters Liberals need back. While he may have been more genuine in the past, people may not get the feeling he's currently in tune. Although he might help in Quebec??
I disagree with you. He'd help in more than Quebec. He'd shore up support in the Maritimes and probably BC. The prairies are debatable.
Everyone keeps repeating you can't expect Liberals to cater to the GTA. Well in a Federal election, you're right. So why revolt and effectively support an anti-GTA candidate by proxy in the name of Stephen Harper by throwing your hands up and giving up before even trying? Having Kennedy is better than electing an anti-GTA Liberal or voting for another party and helping Harper, IMO.
There was no large shift in the GTA for the Conservatives. A few seats here and there. And its not that there is an anti-GTA Liberal candidate. It's just that by and large the Liberals don't care about Toronto. T.O. is safe for the Libs. Toronto's Liberal establishment will support anyone who is electable regardless of how much they care about Tdot. That's the difference between us and the Quebecers.
I'm sure Jack Layton would effectively care more about funding priorities that would help Toronto than probably any Liberal, but is he electable?
No. This is the end of the NDP's rise.