Hail Mary

Mr. Kennedy will release a statement today expressing his opposition to the resolution as the wrong choice for Canada, according to campaign insiders, because he believes it is ill-defined and has raised a variety of interpretations that could lead to greater misunderstanding between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The motion raises expectations of future constitutional change, he believes. globe and mail

I’ve no doubt that Mr. Kennedy acting purely out of principled opposition to the “nation” resolution. But when you are running third and have next to no support in Quebec to lose a bit of pandering to the Trudeau faction of the Liberal Party can’t hurt.

Of course it might not help if he is reminded of his remark in the French language debate back on October 21 when he said,

“Ce n’es pas une question seulement pour la nation ici au Québec, c’est une qustion pour le reste du Canada“. (Gerard Kennedy, Montreal, October 21 leadership debate, 3:10PM Montreal time)

Translation: It isn’t only a question only for here in the Quebec nation, it is a question for the rest of Canada. ALTAVISTAGOOGLE

The Globe reports that Kennedy does not want his opposition to be “a rallying point” for opponents. In fact it is likely to be a rallying point for potential supporters.

Listening to the talk shows over the weekend it is pretty clear that the nation resolution - while perhaps a deft bit of political stickhandling on Prime Minister Harper’s part - is a bit of a pup in the ROC (aka choppedliverstan). Without even trying Warren Kinsella has attracted a couple of hundred signatures to his online petition opposing the resolution. Kinsella writes that this position might just make Kennedy leader of the party a week hence. (And while Kinsella is an asshat he knows Liberal Party politics and, more importantly, his Liberals.)

With nothing else to talk about (as other bloggers here have pointed out the candidates are not insane enough to talk about healthcare, fiscal imbalance or the growing division between rich and poor) there is every chance that the convention may come down to a “vision thing”.

Which vision of Canada? The Iggy/Harper meaningless Quebec word de jour or an appeal to the “One Canada” federalism of Trudeau pere et fils channelled through the unlikely medium of a barely sesquilingual Ontario provincial Cabinet Minister?

The Liberal Party, right, left and center wants a winner and winning issue. Kennedy is giving them one.

Written by jay on November 27th, 2006 with 1 comment.
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