Bloggers on the Leadership

I got caught up with some personal things and wasn't able to post this when I wanted to. Here are the final 2 installments of Bloggers on the Leadership We have nottawa for Ken Dryden and Yappa Ding Ding for Bob Rae.

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> 1. Why did you choose to endorse Ken Dryden?

My first inclination would be to say out of personal loyalty to a guy I
had the honor of working with and a person I idolized as a child. That's an
easy answer. Really, it's because as our party (and every party) has to
learn how to relate better to Canadians, and we need someone at the helm who can
win now. Not in a year or three years or eight years, but now. I also
appreciate what Ken brings to the party. When asked to run as a candidate, he
didn't shy
away or find a reason not to. For someone who is often seen as a
"non-politician", his "political" contribution to our party - as a Minister, as
a
candidate, even as a fundraiser, and as a person who could have given every
excuse not to run in 2004, or gone on to do other interesting things - his
contribution in three short years is arguably greater than anyone's. If an
election is called next week, next month, whenever, ask ANY liberal candidate
who they want in their riding after the writ is dropped.
>
> 2. In your view, what are the top three issues that face our country and
how
> do you see Ken Dryden handling them?

(1) Winning now - Beating Harper now. (2) Restoring the big things we did or
were on the verge of doing in the last government, i.e. Child Care, Kelowna,
Kyoto (3) Giving Canadians a reason to trust us in the wake of three years
of
fallout from the sponsorship mess.


> 3. What do you think Ken Dryden greatest strength
> would be in an election matchup against Stephen Harper?

Trust. Respect. Credibility. Imagine a politician that people like and wish
the best for.
>
> 4. What do you think Ken Dryden greatest weakness
> would be in an election matchup against Stephen Harper?

People say Ken's speaking style is too slow and that his French is not
where it should be. Both have improved dramatically, and will continue to
improve. They will continue get better with time. But trust respect and
credibility can't be coached or created.
>
> 5. If Ken Dryden couldn't win, who would you prefer
> he/she throw their support behind and why?

Behind whichever candidate shares the same desire to fight for all that we
did as a government in the last two years and build on it. I don't think that
candidate is clear as yet.
>
> 6. If Ken Dryden couldn't win, who would you prefer
> he/she not throw their support behind and why?
>

Stephen Harper.

> 7. If you were Ken Dryden's campaign manager, how
> would you run their campaign?
>

I really can't answer this question for obvious reasons.


> 8. Tell us something about Ken Dryden you think most
> people don't know.

That he's the most popular candidate of the bunch and has been in every poll
that bothered to ask that question since February. Believe it or not, this
is actually relevant. Or it should be. Shouldn't it?

>
> 9. Next to Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister, which cabinet position
> do you feel Ken Dryden would excel at?

I can't think of many that he wouldn't. He's a very well-rounded
thoughtful kind of guy.
>
> 10. If Ken Dryden were pitted in a three way 57
round battle royale against Paul Martin and Jean Chrétien who would win?

If you are talking about a real wrestling match I don't think it would even
be close.

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>1. Why did you choose to endorse Bob Rae?
I think a leader needs to be able to do three things: lead the party; beat
Harper in the next election; and be an excellent prime minister to lead all
of Canada. After a lot of thought I decided that Bob Rae was the best person
to do those three things.

>
>2. In your view, what are the top three issues that face our country and

>how do you see Rae handling them?
- Maintaining a strong economy
- Growing the social safety net
- Managing interprovincial affairs
(That doesn't mean I don't think there are lots of other important issues.)

"How he'd handle them" is a difficult one for those issues (they're too
big). I think he would see them as priorities and he'd handle them
innovatively and well. He doesn't just lead in a theoretical sense. For
example, one of his great achievements as Ontario premier during the
recession was finding ways to save large companies that were going bankrupt.
>
>3. What do you think Rae's greatest strength would be in an election
>matchup against Stephen Harper?

Bob Rae is a brilliant and crafty political operative. A big part of his
political effectiveness is his integrity. He is a straight arrow and he's
smart as a whip, and he's able to inspire people. He's won so many elections
because he's so good at politics and because voters can see what a star he
is.
>
>4. What do you think Rae's greatest weakness would be in an election
>matchup against Stephen Harper?
He's not a sitting MP. I'm worried about that one. All the other perceived
weaknesses are things that he can and will address.

>
>5. If Rae couldn't win, who would you prefer he/she throw their support
>behind and why?
I'm torn between Ignatieff and Dion. I think they're both excellent
candidates.
>
>6. If Rae couldn't win, who would you prefer he/she not throw their support
>behind and why?
I would be devastated if he threw his support behind Gerard Kennedy.
>
>7. If you were Rae's campaign manager, how would you run their campaign?
Do you mean campaign for leader or campaign in a federal election? I'll
assume the former.

Currently Rae's campaign is all about his leadership credentials, and it's
very effective. However, I'd like to see him also start addressing some
other things:

- allay people's fears about his perceived weaknesses
- identify a base and communicate to it
- set himself apart from the rest of the candidates
- inspire us. Rae is one of the most inspirational politicians I have ever
seen - right up there with Clinton and Trudeau - and at some point during
the campaign he needs to start rallying the troops. That might be best saved
for the convention.
>
>8. Tell us something about Rae you think most people don't know.
His motivation to be in politics is to make Canada a better place for
everyone.

>
>9. Next to Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister, which cabinet position

>do you feel Rae would excel at?
No idea - I'm not sure I see him in parliament if he's not leader. He might
be UN secretary general or something of that stature.
>
>10. If Rae were pitted in a three way 57 round battle royale against Paul

>Martin and Jean Chrétien who would win?

Can anyone ever beat Jean Chretien? He's a slippery one. I don't know if
even Bob Rae could manage it. I think he could take Martin.

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