Hedy Fry's In
Today, my own MP, Hedy Fry throw her hat into the race for the next Liberal leader. While it is good to have someone from the West join as well as more women, I think the party choosing Hedy Fry as leader would be a terrible mistake. I realize her comments on Prince George are probably dumb ones that she regrets, but I don't think the public would be very forgiving of them. The only real benefit of her entering is it will at least ensure women's and Western issues are debated, which is definitely a good thing. Even if I don't support a given candidate, that doesn't mean I don't support them entering the race. I believe the more people you get in the race, the more debate you get on different ideas and the stronger the party will be with whoever they choose.
I should also add a few side notes on other daily events here. Carolyn Bennett's comments about the Tory childcare plan leading to more jails was just plain stupid. Lets debate the issues on facts and have a reasonable debate. Making over the top statements as we saw last election only helps the Conservatives. Secondly, the government knows best mentality may sell well amongst a certain crowd, but I don't think it does amongst most Canadians. Most Canadians are compassionate and want the government to help the most disadvantaged, but by the same token most Canadians aren't for a cradle to grave nanny state such as Sweden has nor are they supportive of a fend for yourself society that the United States has. Finally, I am pleased to see Paul Martin finally speak in the House. I've felt that he was always a good debater and offered intelligent ideas when he was himself. It was only when he had his idiotic advisors (yes thats you Scott Reid, John Duffy, and David Herle) write his speeches did he sound arrogant. I know my Tory friends will disagree, but I see him as a true stateman and I hope he continues to play a strong role in the House and speak out on important issues. He may have lost credibility with some Canadians, but not this one.
I should also add a few side notes on other daily events here. Carolyn Bennett's comments about the Tory childcare plan leading to more jails was just plain stupid. Lets debate the issues on facts and have a reasonable debate. Making over the top statements as we saw last election only helps the Conservatives. Secondly, the government knows best mentality may sell well amongst a certain crowd, but I don't think it does amongst most Canadians. Most Canadians are compassionate and want the government to help the most disadvantaged, but by the same token most Canadians aren't for a cradle to grave nanny state such as Sweden has nor are they supportive of a fend for yourself society that the United States has. Finally, I am pleased to see Paul Martin finally speak in the House. I've felt that he was always a good debater and offered intelligent ideas when he was himself. It was only when he had his idiotic advisors (yes thats you Scott Reid, John Duffy, and David Herle) write his speeches did he sound arrogant. I know my Tory friends will disagree, but I see him as a true stateman and I hope he continues to play a strong role in the House and speak out on important issues. He may have lost credibility with some Canadians, but not this one.
posted by Monkey Loves to Fight at 6:49 PM
18 Comments:
Since you are from North Carolina, what the Hell are you doing on a Canadian blog commenting on the Canadian political scene. And your blog seems like some spam. I would ask that those posting try to stick to the topic at hand.
We don't often agree Mr. Fiberal - but whoami is either spam or delierious - either way a contributor of little value.
I did want to ask though, if Hedi Fry's totally racist comments on Prince George, which the Fiberals have never disowned, are merely dumb ones that she regrets, then why do you...oh, never mind..dogma can always avoid the obvious.
Of course, you could provide quotes from Fiberals disowning Fry's racist comments - if there are any.
Good hunting.
BC/CA
Well Miles, let me put it this way:
if the past statements of some obscure Tory candidate or backbencher are fair game, then you better believe that the past statements of Liberal leadership candidates are also fair game.
If I were a Liberal, I'd want Hedy hidden in a closet somewhere rather than running for the leadership of the party
Brandon - I am not endorsing Hedy Fry and certainly her statement on Prince George was unacceptable. She is right that crosses were burning on the lawns in a place called Prince George, but that was Prince George, Georgia, not Prince George, BC, so big difference. That being said I agree you cannot attack the Tories and let the Liberals off the hook. However, I really don't think she stands a chance at winning. The only good thing of her entering the race is at least Western issues will get some attention so hopefully the next leader will realize the importance of paying attention to the West. Although I would have rather had Stephen Owen, Ralph Goodale, or Anne McLellan as the candidate from the West.
Miles: She is right that crosses were burning on the lawns in a place called Prince George, but that was Prince George, Georgia, not Prince George, BC, so big difference.
Big Difference? Intellectual lie vs total lie. Still a liar, which you seem to think is okay.
Other than that, please inform what western issues Hedy will bring to the frontelobe of Fiberal conscience? Gun control? Property rights? Pray tell.
AB/ba
Most Canadians including Western Canadians support gun control, what they don't support is the gun registry. Opposing the gun registry doesn't mean one is against gun control. Besides she represents an urban riding where the gun registry is popular (I personally oppose it), while it is unpopular in rural ridings in all parts of Canada.
As for property rights, I think they are widely supported everywhere, but since we already have them it is not an issue for most. Even though they are not in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that doesn't mean they don't exist. Besides property rights are more of an issue in rural areas than large urban ridings.
Sorry, my bad - gun control we all agree is a good thing.
Gun registry does not equeal gun control of course, unless you are a large urban person, er, large person from an urban area, I mean, individual from a large urban area where god like people are bred; unlike small urban or rural people - who are obviously ill-bred. Fiberal truths.
Anonymous - My position on gun control is: I oppose the gun registry and believe it should be scrapped. I do support registration of hand guns and believe hand guns shouldn't be illegal as the Liberals opposed, but very difficult to get and only limited to legitimate target shooters and collectors. I also believe there be better screening at the border to stop the importation of illegal guns.
I also believe there be better screening at the border to stop the importation of illegal guns.
And guess who's budget eliminated the Ports Police in 1997?
Some guy named Paul Martin
I think eliminating the Ports police was a dumb idea, but the real problem is along the Canada/US border not at foreign ports. Most of our illegal guns come from the United States, not overseas.
I'm not really certain that Hedy Fry will add much to the leadership race but the Liberals should have someone from B.C. Keith Martin would seem like a sensible and positive choice.
I think Keith Martin would be a great candidate. Off course he would have no chance at winning, but at least on the health care issue we could have an honest debate on the merits of a parallel private system.
How does her comment count as a "LIE", either intellectual or 'total'? Last time I checked, a mistake and a lie are two entirely different things. The Gary Mason article on her in the Globe talked about how she got given the information by a junior staffer and that the real town was Merritt, where they arrested a KKK guy a few weeks later.
It was still a lie, but not an intentional lie. In fact it was probably some dumb junior staffer who I hope she fired over the issue. I didn't know about the Merritt incident, but I knew about the Prince George, Georgia incident.
How does her comment count as a "LIE", either intellectual or 'total'?
Had I heard that a fellow Canadian was burning crosses, I would have said, "are you sure?" I might have even said, "This can't be, get back to me with the facts."
But I wouldn't be so eager to smear my fellow Canadians that I blurt out such a hurtful slander, which I later blame (intellectual lie) on a staffer.
Let me make clear, what she did was stupid and unacceptable. Also I will not be supporting her for the Liberal leadership. However, that does not mean she shouldn't run for the leadership race. For the party to have a full renewal it needs as many candidates as possible.
I hope that Hedy Fry wins the Liberal leadership -- then people will be burning up their Liberal membership cards, AS WE SPEAK!
If Hedy doesn't win, then hopefully Ashley MacIsaac will win. Then he'll just piss all over voters, and turn them over to voting in a majority Conservative government.
If both Hedy and Ashley both lose, then hopefully David Orchard will win. Then the Liberals can turn to their 1988 campaign platform of anti-everything including free trade. Orchard's socialist buddy Marjaleena Repo is scary enough to scare more than a few Liberals to the Tory camp.
If Hedy, Ashley, and David all lose, then my pick is Bob Rae. I'm sure his fellow former NDP Premier buddy Ujjal Dosanjh will be backing him. Rae as leader would send all Liberal voters in Ontario who remember his provincial legacy to the Tories. Combined with soaring fortunes in Quebec and an established base in the West, the Conservatives would then form a majority government.
Actually, when you think about it, there's no serious candidate running for the Liberal leadership. It's a Liberal gong show! All the "star" candidates including Frank McKenna, Brian Tobin, Allan Rock, John Manley, and Belinda Stronach have all turned their nose up at the idea of leading the pathetic party.
Regardless of who wins the Liberal leadership, the Conservatives are guaranteed a majority government next time around!
Ryan - I wouldn't be so sure the Conservatives will get a majority government next time around. Harper is still early in his mandate and never mind many people who didn't vote Liberal simply felt they needed a time out and never mind they were leading at the beginning of the campaign and largely lost due to one of the worse run campaigns ever. Harper may be doing well in Quebec for now, but his strong support for the war in Afghanistan, which is unpopular could hurt him there. The Western base is not quite as strong as you may think. Here in British Columbia, Harper is not exactly that popular.
The reality is anybody trying to predict the outcome of the next election is full of themselves. I want the Liberals to win the next election, but I am not dumb enough to predict they will win it.
And no Ryan I have no plans on tearing up my Liberal card and coming over to the Conservatives. If Harper wins a majority and doesn't adopt a socially conservative agenda, I may re-consider, but I believe Harper will adopt a Hidden Agenda if he wins a majority government.
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