Jack Layton vs. Bob Rae: The “battle” we deserve.
Michael Ignatieff should give Bob Rae a mission: win Toronto-Danforth.
Stay at home. No national critic’s role. Go hand to hand and share the infectious passion that made you a Liberal where it is needed most.
Raise money. BBQs & coffee parties. Play the piano. Do what it takes and get it done.
This is a solution that is plausible, desirable and optimal.
Bob could put this battle into a proportionate crucible that serves the country well. This frees Mr. Ignatieff and other high profile Liberals to focus on the war with Steven Harper and reaching out across party lines to the array of progressive Canadians including authentic fiscal Conservatives, Green Party environmentalists who know in their hearts the only achievable route to Canadian leadership on climate change and NDPers who for example, want national day care now rather then more talk about it.
Jack Layton style politics are giving us Steven Harper’s Canada.
Jack knows he is not playing to be Prime Minister. His is not the battle for the leadership of Canada.
Jack is welcome to join the Liberal Party. Bob did. Scott Brison did. Belinda Stronach did (and this list can go on). Each joiner brings new strength in diversity. This is not about the leadership or culture of the Liberal Party of Canada.
This is a battle for the commitment of all Canadians who really want an alternative to Steven Harper. It is up to everyone who is authentically dedicated to progressive, responsible government in Canada to make a personal commitment to deliver it.
Talk about a coalition between the NDP and Liberals maybe a great headline grabbing tactic but defeating Steven Harper is not about grabbing headlines.
A merger between the NDP and Libs is only the most controversial possible solution to defacto PM Harper but it is not the most plausible, the most desirable or the optimal solution.
This pattern of kicking around the most controversial for the sake of grabbing headlines propagated by a few (less than a dozen?) old school power seekers in Canada is the Jack Layton style of politics that we need a strategy against. When more than 70% of Canadians do not support the current government, these antics sell newspapers and light up televisions with political theatre but they only secure Mr. Harper further.
You could even have Bob Rae and Toronto-Danforth Liberal candidate Andrew Lang swap ridings. But I don’t advise it. That is a waste of time and energy and it would defeat the purpose.
The purpose is to call on Bob Rae to focus his talents and make a difference. Toronto-Danforth is the battle. Liberal Party President, Alf Apps calls it “ground zero in the next election”. I think a D-Day/Normandy metaphor is appropriate. This is the beach head that turns the tide. Get engaged in the heat of this battle and everything else will fade as a distraction.
By the way, this is a call that goes beyond the duty of Michael Ignatiff. This is a call that red liberals across the country can make. (Side Note: What is a “red liberal”? Anyone committed to the centre. Kinda like a thinking-type “Mama Grizzly” only better looking and smarter.)
Leave a comment below. Write to Mr. Rae in Ottawa (raeb@parl.gc.ca) or Toronto (raeb1@parl.gc.ca). Leave a comment on his Facebook wall.
While you are at it, feel free to write to his brother John Rae who has a hand in Canadian power politics. Write a blog post or change Roy Romanow’s wikipedia page. Let’s make him Captain to General Bob Rae. Warren Kinsella – I love you man and your nasty past so I am sure that you will take this in the best punk rock spirit possible – time to be a Soldier Boy in Toronto-Danforth.
Attention all Canadians looking for an alternative to Steven Harper’s smack down of progressive government in Canada: you can make a difference.
Join the battle. The purpose is to call on you to change the course of the war.
Track down a vote swap. Man up on Liberalist for Toronto-Danforth. Support Toronto-Danforth through social media. Put your money down.
