Thursday, May 19, 2011

Bob Rae Holding the Liberal Party Hostage?

Update: Here

Lost in translation over everyone's exuberance that Mr. Rae announced today that he is seeking the interim leader tag, is the fact that he did so well tying the hands of the members and the national executive. You see, in all the excitement, Bob has decided to set the timing for the next leadership himself. Alf Apps must be just livid tonight.

Other Liberals take Mr. Rae at his word and suggest the move was inevitable, given that rebuilding process is likely a decade long commitment. Mr. Rae told CBC’s Power and Politics that he is prepared to start that process, as long as the interim leadership is for an 18-24 month period.


So all of you that have been debating over long or short leadership, biennial back or forth can just stop now. Bob has spoken. Your move Mr. Apps.

I'd love to play chess with Bob some day, because I think he's got some interesting gambits.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

You're right of course. I haven't been notified of the fact the members of the Liberal Party have voted on this decision. In fact I am so confused, that I may just write Bob Rae a letter asking for clarification.

Anonymous said...

Didn't your previous post say that it was Alf Apps himself that wanted 18 months until the leadership convention? Why would he be upset to see Rae seem the same.

Perhaps the members will have an issue with this, but why would Apps, he can credibly claim that it was he who's been claiming that the "consensus" is 18 months till permanent leader selected.

James Curran said...

Well, because Apps is embattled by those that don't want the longest leadership race in history. Even 2006 was only 10 months long. Now, if the board wants Rae, they have no choice but to go with 18 months and risk losing their amendment "special votes" on June 18th to those who would prefer a year or less.

Annie said...

Yes the last one was long, and some of them still owe money. That is beside the point..at the time we were not trying to fix the party..perhaps we should have started then.

James Curran said...

we've been trying to fix the party since chretien/turner. 18 months will be the longest leadership in the history of the party.....and the most destructive ever.