Who thinks Bob Rae would make an excellent Liberal leader?

[jackbourassa]

Rae is articulate (something we haven't had since Trudeau). Fluent in both languages. Is left-of-centre. He would attract many NDP votes, which is where we lost. He could really rebuild in Quebec - given his left-of-centre politics and his support of Meech and his role in fighting against the NO side in 1995. He may make inroads in BC and retake the cities in Ontario.

I just have a good feeling about Bob Rae. He may be just what the Liberals need.

BTW, he has been an active Liberal since the late 1990s.

[V. Kid]

1. Oh, I think he'd be great too...

...because everytime someone in Ontario mentions that people shouldn't vote NDP because of Bob Rae, well, he'd be a Liberal so...

[iverglas]

4. excellent point!

(And I see Minstrel Boy agrees with you. ;) )

And hey, he is (or was -- it's not easy to find the info) on the board of directors of Magna, so he'd fit right in.

[Mother Jones]

2. I'm intrigued

But I have to confess, I was too young when he was premier.....All I recall is everyone saying how he spent way too much money, and then there are those famous 'Rae-days'.

I'd love more info about him.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Why do you think Rae would draw NDP votes?

He's reviled by New Democrats as the man who singlehandedly botched our greatest opportunity and as a traitor to our party and our principles. He doesn't have a record he can run on. For years Liberals and Conservatives have said "Vote NDP? Don't you remember what Rae did in Ontario?" I can't see grassroots Liberals getting excited about his candidacy, but I can see New Democrats getting motivated as hell to defeat him, especially while we have a strong leader from Ontario.

Rae would be a disasterous choice for the Liberals. And I'm not saying that just because I'd like to see it.

[LeftistGorilla]

5. Bob Rae would not take back anything in Ontario....

his name still leaves a bad taste in the mouths of people around here...

[V. Kid]

6. Also, the Liberals didn't loose because of slippage to the NDP...

...they lost because they collapsed in Quebec, and lost suburban voters to the Conservatives. The losses to the NDP were negligible. Just look at the numbers.

[jackbourassa]

7. Isn't it funny how it's NDPers who don't want him to run...

...I wonder why.

[IntravenousDemilo]

8. Doubtless it's for the good of everyone. n/m

[Minstrel Boy]

10. sigh...

As I said in this thread last week, under my subject line "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.

[jackbourassa]

12. Cool, then we are in agreement...

I don't remember anyone saying "Vote NDP? Don't you remember what Bob Rae did to Ontario?" But maybe I don't get out enough.

I just remember when Bob Rae spoke at the University of Waterloo to an overflowing capacity crowd of thousands. Maybe Howard Whatshisname will get those kind of crowds too after he leaves his post as NDP leader. But I doubt it.

[Minstrel Boy]

13. Maybe you don't hear it because

you're not an Ontario New Democrat.

Rae's failure - most galling, not even a leftist failure, but a centrist failure - is the millstone we've had about our necks for 15 years. The Liberals hung it there, and they're welcome to it.

[V. Kid]

11. I'm just being honest, if I was an NDP appartchnik, not just supporter...

...I wouldn't say anything. I would like him to run, simply so he could run the Liberal Party into the ground. But unfortunatley, I don't think that will happen. Surely the Liberal Party isn't that stupid.

[CHIMO]

9. Well

Don't know how good he is in Mandarin but if you say so.

Left of centre is where now?

Trudeau and Meech didn't happen to agree.

But you may be right.

If the Liberals only principal is "power" then they might get in for a bit longer when/if Harper trips.

But for the long term, well what the heck, we aren't here for the long term.

If you have another bandwagon to jump on let us know.