This week, Sen. Percy Downe went public with his views amid a downward trend in the polls, economic unease and rumour mills churning about potential Liberal leadership contenders readying to replace him.
In a radio interview on The Vassy Kapelos Show Thursday, Downe said he’s hearing from “many members of the caucus” who are concerned and consider the time between now and February as critical for the party to conduct some internal soul-searching about the best path forward.
“It’s quite widespread,” Downe said. When asked why no other Liberals have said publicly what he claims they’ve communicated privately, the senator said they can’t for a range of reasons, including the fact that the party leader signs their nomination forms.
Even though I align with the party on most of their platform, I cannot vote for the LPC under any circumstances, due to their history of broken promises, scandals, ethics violations, horrible handle on foreign policy, blatant disregard for demographics that brought them Parliamentary majorities, lack of a constructive, modern vision for the nation, lack of sincerity, the list goes on and on.
In light of all that, what is it about this particular moment that has Liberals getting their knives out? Of all the times to question a leader, why now exactly? Is this a polling thing? Am I out of the loop?
Even with all of that the Conservatives are far more dangerous at the moment and had far worse scandals. If we end up with another liberal minority where all leaders get ditched that would be great for Canadians. Only thing better would be electoral reform so we get actual proportional representation and don’t have to worry about the Conservatives constantly courting fascists
I agree on the point that minority governments on the whole are a good thing for the country. Parties should be kept in check. I feel like my tax dollars are fairly spent when politicians are obligated to negotiate and develop consensus. All this incessant posturing in the House is a waste of every citizen’s time and money. But minority governments also lead to blood-boiling accidental absurdities like the BQ holding the reins on matters of national interest.
I have to say that I’m tired of the fear narrative that gets reeled out around elections in this country. No major party has a view to radically transform Canada. In the grand scheme of things, the three major parties are moderate, and I’m not convinced that any of them are literally dangerous. And so, the bland fruit that grows from the tree of our national politics, while not lethally poisonous, is not necessarily nutritious either.
If only some fresh party leader would make that a key promise of their platform. Surely they would use their majority government to make good on that promise.