I still feel the choices that Liberals are being presented this time around for leader leave a lot to be desired. The actions by two of the three so far are far less than gentlemanly. However, given the choices there are, the one name that stands out for me is Michael Ignatieff. Briefly, here are my reasons.
At this time, Canada needs someone who can take on Stephen Harper -- or any other Conservative leader for that matter -- toe to toe. There's no question that Bob Rae or Dominic LeBlanc are up to the task but Ignatieff is the most in the class required. More important, Iggy has ideas both for domestic as well as foreign policy to help Canada reclaim its place as a world leader as well an honest broker both of which are lacking under the Cons.
Bob Rae is a fine gentleman, but too many people in Ontario haven't forgiven him for, or forgetten about, what he did as NDP Premer (not just the economy and Rae Days, but also reneging on public auto insurance). He would get clobbered if he got the leadership now. As for LeBlanc, I just don't know enough about him even though he is a four term MP.
We don't need a messianic figure (like Obama in the States), but we do need someone who combines pragmatism with dignity and fire. Ignatieff is not perfect and his voice is only slightly better than David Dodge (the former Bank of Canada governor who, in the words of the CBC Shanghai correspondent Anthony Germain could "make paint peel"), but he -- the man who should have won the last time out -- is my choice.
UPDATE (10:17 am EST, 1517 GMT): My bad; Germain is based in Shanghai, not Beijing.
Vote for this post at Progressive Bloggers.
No comments:
Post a Comment