Saturday, December 02, 2006

Stephane Dion Elected Liberal Leader

The Parking Lot's Liberal Insider, the Rubber Duck, kept us on top of things all day with his frequent dispatches from the floor of the Liberal leadership convention in Montreal. The following is a summary of how the day unfolded according to the Duck:

9:57 a.m. - BIG MO FOR RAE & DION

"Big Mo for Dion and Rae. The Iggy people are stunned. They will have to do something they never expected, make a choice."
12:44 a.m. - TWISTING ARMS FOR RAE
"I've been working the Iggy delegates hard and they are still true believers. Too close to call."
3:42 p.m. - SMART-ASS COMMENT FROM DAVID

Reporters keep asking Dion supporters whether it's a mistake to select another leader from Quebec. I wish one of them would respond, "No more than selecting one from Boston."

4:01 p.m. - DUCK REPORTS THE SWING
"Mood is somber among Rae people, but I think they're breaking 60-40 for Dion."
4:05 p.m. - RUBBER DUCK'S FINAL CHOICE
"Dion in a big way. I could never ever vote for Iggy. Ever."
4:22 p.m. - IGNATIEFF IN 20 WORDS OR LESS
"Iggy is satanic. That last line in his speech was like Darth Vader. 'I will bring you victory!!!!'"
4:29 p.m. - DUCK CALLS OUT BAND WAGONERS
"I am really looking forward to seeing the Iggy supporters lose. Especially those that joined right out of the box. On what basis? Nothing but manipulative opportunism. Ruby Dhalla, Brendan McGuinty, Cauchon, Smith, and, of course, Alf Apps."
4:40 p.m. - BRISON BACKS A LOSER (AGAIN)

Scott Brison steals the mantel of Biggest Loser in Canadian Politics from Stephen LeDrew by backing the wrong horse for the second time in one day. The Duck comments:
"He should be so characterized. An enduring image for me will be the sight of Iggy and Brison riding the escalator up to the Iggy suites. Brison was holding up Iggy's hand and shouting 'Okay!!! Come on!!!' as only Brison could yell it. The floor below was filled with Iggy supporters but they were damn near silent at the spectacle of offensively senseless opportunism."
4:45 p.m. - IGNATIEFF HITS BOTTOM
"Just saw Marlene Catterall stumble by with a cup of Tim Hortons and an Iggy scarf."
6:44 p.m. - DION ELECTED LEADER
"Je pense que Stephen Harper is a very happy man tonight."
Absolument, et moi aussi.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did anyone else feel sorry for John Turner?

David said...

At first I did. Then I saw the neutered Paul Martin stammer his way through Dion's introduction. This is soon after Chretien had brought the convention to its feet. Pathetic.

Road Hammer said...

I didn't see Turner, but my wife said he can't walk very well.

Martin's speech was just like the last campaign:

"STEEEE-phen Harper"
"The fact is"
"National child-care and early learning progum".

The other thing missing was "I've been clear on this from the very beginning".

I think that he may give Tony Clement and Stephen Le Drew a run for their money for the title of biggest loser in Canadian politics, especially when you consider that his henchman, the petty Scott Reid, received a verbal smackdown from the Tobinator and Sheila Copps during CTV's coverage after he referred to the Martin/Chretien camps for about the fourth time.

Anonymous said...

Turner gave a stuttering speech about the value of the "vocation" of politics and public service.

It was actually well put and quite true, but he didn't look very well.

It makes me realize that there are no giants in Canadian politics anymore.

Road Hammer said...

Mythmaking aside, were there ever any to begin with?

David said...

At least Turner has the excuse that he's pushing 80 years old. Martin has no such excuse.

Anonymous said...

Actually Hammer, I believe we gave Scott Reid another award during the Highwaymen days. I believe it was Biggest #$%hole in Canadian Politics.

Road Hammer said...

I don't think there's ever been someone as hated in their own party as Scott Reid is. The only person who even comes close is/was Dalton Camp.

Anonymous said...

I actually hated Herle more... but I watched him this weekend and his insights were actually interesting. Destroying a party lends some humility I guess.