On Monday, federal Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy became the source of much fuss and bother when he announced that, "If NATO fails to change their strategy (in Afghanistan), Canada should pull out of the war in Afghanistan." Not surprisingly, Mr. Kennedy has been invited to talk about our military involvement in the region on CTV's Question Period. But he wasn't the only one.
Michael Ignatieff was also approached to discuss Afghanistan on the show - among a number of other leadership campaign issues. However, in an interview with Public Eye, Ignatieff campaign assistant communications director Alicia Johnston said her candidate declined the invite because "he's got meetings." Ms. Johnston also clarified that the appearance "wasn't actually pitched to us as a debate (with Mr. Kennedy) per se." Instead, the appearance would have been to "just to talk to (hosts) Roger (Smith) and Jane (Taber)" one-on-one. Fellow leadership contender Scott Brison will be appearing on the show to debate Mr. Kennedy.
Good on Kennedy for taking a stand
Bad on Iggy for being afraid to debate the most pressing foriegn policy issue of our time.typical front runner syndrom.
Let's all watch Iggy coast to defeat.
Having realised that Harper-lite is a gaffe prone ametuer is the strategy of the iggyites to now hide their candidate from now until the Convention.
One has to feel for them really, many threw their weight behind Iggy thinking just because he gave a great speech at the Liberal Biennial that he was somehow the second coming of Trudeau.
Well as has become very apparent in this race Pierre Trudeau Iggy ain't, more Harper Lite a la Stockwell Day. He's hiding from Question Period because he knows he'll say something that will further illustrate how ill prepaired he would be to lead the Party.
Lets review
- Going after Liberal Sacred cows
- Not loosing any sleep
- Don't try achieving Kyoto because we can't
- Won't run for the party if he looses but now will (very reminiscent of the "I voted for the war before i voted against it", in fact his campaign slogan should be I said I would run as an MP after I said I wouldn't run if I lost the leadership)
"He's got meetings" please thats a lame excuse, anyone in the know knows that Question Period could easily have taped an interview with him at his availability if he wanted to hide from going live.
I guess his plan is to hide as opposition leader, hide during an election campaign and hope no one notices...plain and simple Iggy is an ametuer and would be a gaffe prone disaster for the leadership of the Party.
If Iggy cannot even face off with someone from his own Liberal team, how does he defend his claim that he is the best placed to beat Harper?
Kennedy was the NICE one in that article yesterday - he made his point re: Iggy's lack of commitment to the Liberal in a fair and sportsmanlike way.
You can be sure Harper and his pack of freaks will not be so gentle.
Man, I can't believe Iggy is ducking Kennedy like this.
I think Gerard has had a FANTASTIC two weeks and is setting himself up well for the DSM and Convention.
Iggy has had a nightmare of a week and is slipping fast...
A 13,000 word piece in the Globe.
A cover story on Maclean's.
A huge glowing piece in the Georgia Strait.
Yeah, a real nightmare of a week.
welll, lets see,
iggy has,,,
a well oiled machine
plenty of money
all his opponents are talking about HIM,
connections,
he,s fresh and sincere,
canadians are lazy,i smell a PC majority,,,,,,,,,glenn
Harper and the gang are hoping the recent visitor to Canada gets the nod. Steve really wants a majority so if the opposition leader is on side on a war we can't and won't win, hell what could be better for Steve. I found it fascinating that the Globe who has been supporting Harper since day one ,is boosting Iggy as well. Sometimes one wonders if the voters are actually as dumb as the experts think they are. People have a habit of voting against people not for them. Harper is in decline as is his war so hang on to your hats.