The Shallow Liberal Talent Pool
January 31, 2006 · By Peter Rempel
Frank McKenna took himself out of the running for the Liberal leadership today, a major suprise given that he abandoned his post as US ambassador a day-and-a-half following Paul Martin’s resignation as leader. Together with Manley’s announcement, it’s becoming clear that leading Liberals are reluctant to take on the task of rebuilding the broken Liberal party. Or, as Robert Fife put it tonight: “The Liberals are spooked by Stephen Harper. They think he’s going to pull a John Diefenbaker.”
It says something that two candidates have announced that they will not seek the leadership before anyone has announced that they will (with the exception of Hedy Fry). Watch for Fry to be joined by fellow second-tierers Stronach and Brison. Others have noticed that McKenna’s departure signals a precipitous decline in the quality of the Liberal leadership pool:
“Former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley has already said he won’t run. That leaves such stellar candidates as, wait for it … Belinda Stronach, Scott Brison, Allan Rock and Martin Cauchon.”
The question is whether candidates with more potential like Dion, Ignatieff, and Tobin are willing to take the position of opposition leader indefinitely.
UPDATE: And I’m not the only one who thinks so:
“It makes it a wide-open race but it will be a race of the second tier,” a long-time Liberal said about Mr. McKenna’s decision, which came only days after another heavyweight, former deputy prime minister John Manley, also decided against running, for personal reasons.
I think it is a good thing to get new blood into the Liberal pool. Perhaps the weeding out of “Liberals of Convience” and other such undiserables will do the party, and ultimately the country, some good (that is, if Stronach or Ignafief ..spelling on that one… don’t get it).
McKenna’s resignation was procedural. As a Liberal appointee he obviously wouldn’t have the full confidence of the new government. However until he is replaced he will remain in his capacity, so that work can go on until Harper gets his house in order. Basically McKenna did was was required for a smooth transition from one party to another, and likely would have done the same if Martin had not stepped down.
“I think it is a good thing to get new blood into the Liberal pool.”
What new blood? All of the candidates are either Chretien or Martin-era cabinet ministers.
[...] This is getting just a little sad. Today Brian Tobin, undoubtedly the front-runner in the race following Frank McKenna’s departure, bowed out of the race. [...]