Last week, Bob Rae's British Columbia campaign director struck back against allegations "fraudulent Forms" assisted the federal Liberal leadership candidate in securing 78 delegate spots. In an email sent to supporters, Greg Wilson wrote those allegations - which were included in an email sent to party officials by the Ignatieff team - are simply part of "media campaign camoflauged as an appeal." That appeal asks the party take those spots away from the former Ontario premier. But, in an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Ignatieff''s Western Canada campaign manager David Hurford took issue with Mr. Wilson's statement.
"The key thing is we actually think the Rae team out there - and I know a lot of them very well, they're a professional team and had a good result in B.C. - handled the situation quite well when it was discovered. The main focus of our appeal is not necessarily with the conduct of the Rae campaign. It's with the decision of the national returning officer " - who allowed the Rae campaign to fill the spots with qualified delegates.
Mr. Hurford had little else to say about the appeal. And, when asked about Mr. Wilson's allegation the Ignatieff campaign had miscounted the number of disqualified delegates, he responded, "I wouldn't want to get into the numbers. Because the whole case has been filed by our team out of Toronto. I can't give you a good answer on the discrepancy in the numbers."
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If Bob Rae was truly interested in being the good guy here, he would demand his team forego those delegates or re-hold the meetings.
Greg Wilson is victom of his own success, I am afraid he has been caught with his pants down on this one.
What's the difference here and why all the vitriol and back and forth?
Wilson, by all accounts, has done a very good job for Rae, who, frankly, shouldn't be in this race and will lose. But it was Wilson, king of the lists, who propped up his numbers and Wilson who dispensed the right tactical advise for the Rae team to follow, most notably in British Columbia. Greg was doing what he was supposed to be doing. Lord knows, there have been (and will be) times to seriously (and justifiably) question Gregor, er, I mean Greg, but this isn't one of them. He's doing his job.
So were's the real problem? Iggy has shot himself in the foot, several times during the campaign. Who cares about the number of delegates the other guys have when the Iggmeister has been such a disappointment. He and Dion looked bitter and almost nervous in the forum I watched most recently. And Rae was smug and arrogant. The three of them were awful.
Why would the Libranos pick Rae or Iggy? Pick a guy who will piss off Ontario or a guy who has pissed off the Jews. Brilliant. (I suppose it doesn't help that Dion can barely speak English properly--notice the yelps of protest from the dog pound in other camps that Kennedy's French isn't quite up to snuff? How come speaking English isn't as important????? No wonder Dion wants to relight the Constitutional bong).
In the end it will be between Kennedy and Dion, and if the Sliperals are smart (will the jury ever come in on that one--probably not!) Kennedy will be their pick. He represents their future, since they have no present and a past mired in their own "excréments".
Alex: Thanks for the advice. You should join the Liberal Party.
You are almost right. Problem is that Kennedy's French is FAR worse than Dion's English.
That's why Dion should win now, and Kennedy later.
Iggy and Rae? Their best days are behind them.
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