As an undeclared, independent delegate, I am not obligated to vote for any specific candidate - which means I could spoil my ballot, or simply leave it blank. I still haven't decided whether or not I will use that prerogative tomorrow morning.
Let me be clear: the leader of the Liberal Party has my full, unqualified support, both as interim leader and as our constitutionally elected leader. Michael Ignatieff has already done a remarkable job of bringing the party together and supporting essential reforms, and I am confident that he will lead our party to victory in the next election.
I also understand and agree with the reasons why Bob Rae and Domenic LeBlanc chose to withdraw under some extraordinary circumstances. However, I do not agree with the way in which options for an accelerated contested race were closed off, and had I been given a choice, I would most likely have voted for someone other than Michael Ignatieff.
This is not disloyalty. This is not disunity. This is my right - my duty - as a member of the Liberal Party. I have the right to express my concerns freely, and to vote my conscience - even if that vote takes the form of "none of the above". And as a delegate, even an acclaimed one (and yes, I appreciate the irony), I feel that I have a responsibility to make sure that the Liberals in my riding who have serious reservations about Michael Ignatieff, however few, are somehow given a voice.
I suppose this is all a little grandiose for someone who has never attended a convention before and has only been a Liberal Party member for a few years. But I strongly believe that in any democratic system, it is essential for dissenting opinions to be expressed, even if that expression is only symbolic. Unanimity, as appealing as it might appear to be for morale, is frequently a mask that covers underlying disagreements, and once covered those disagreements often grow and fester. Once expressed, everyone can move forward, satisfied that they have been heard.
As I said, I still haven't decided what I'm going to do. I may well just check that one box and be done with it. I don't know - and I'm certainly not going to tell any of you. And when the results are tabulated and Michael Ignatieff is named as our official leader, I'll cheer and celebrate along with everyone else, and then get to work.
But it will be all the more meaningful knowing that I at least could have said 'no'.
"Let me be clear: the leader of the Liberal Party has my full, unqualified support, both as interim leader and as our constitutionally elected leader. Michael Ignatieff has already done a remarkable job of bringing the party together and supporting essential reforms, and I am confident that he will lead our party to victory in the next election. "
ReplyDeleteif there is any justice in the universe, both ignatieff the torture apologist, ex-patriot, resume burnishing creep and steve harper the fundie mole will both lose the next election. iggy might have brought the "party" together but he has more than alienated a large swath of the population who are progressive and non-partisan. i will campaign against both of the bad choices of leader presented by the two major parties. i feel sorry for liberals of good conscience that their party's dismal prospects and tarnished record have led them into the clutches of an opportunistic egomaniac like ignatieff.
psa said it all - I have not seen one pronouncement by Iggy that puts any light between him and Harper.
ReplyDeleteWhen Iggy won the F-award for the most regressive progressive, well, that said it all.
It's like putting lipstick on a pig.
I have not seen one pronouncement by Iggy that puts any light between him and Harper.That's because you're too busy trolling Liberal blogs.
ReplyDeletemy apologies ti-guy, by all means vote for the almost as shitty leader of your choice. and don't let critical thinking get in the way of sweet victory.
ReplyDeletemy apologies ti-guy, by all means vote for the almost as shitty leader of your choice. and don't let critical thinking get in the way of sweet victory.
ReplyDeleteI don't vote for "a leader." I vote for a local candidate and expect a cabinet government. There is plenty of talent in the Liberal Party and only a partisan hack would refuse to acknowledge that.
Ignatieff has never been my choice and you know that. But he is right that sometimes all we can hope for is the lesser evil.
You should have caught TVO's The Agenda yesterday. The optimistic Andrea Horvath vs. the relentlessly dour Marxist professor Leo Pannitch. With socialism ascendant (as is usually the case with economic decline), that's the future of the NDP for the next little while.
It was a great discussion mind you but...*pfft* I've been there before...
Sadly your vote re. Mr. Ignatieff, whatever it was, would make no difference to anything at the convention. Did they even announce the actual vote tally? AT THIS POINT, I hear no difference between Mr. Harper and Mr. Ignatieff and I hear a lot of similarities in the "me too" of silence and inaction. The future will unfold and we will find out if Mr. Ignatieff is another wolf in sheep's clothing representing a clique who staged his throning OR is the leader who will put into effect the hopes and decisions of a delegate and members like yourself. Will Mr. Chretien's barn burning speech tied to concrete commitments for ALL Canadians become the Liberal party OR a wooly sweatered, pigeon pooping vote buyer.
ReplyDeleteI believe the party membership will push for the concretes of Mr. Chretien's speech. I watched Mr. Dion closely through that evening and had tears for a party that divided to destroy a true visionary and PRACTICAL visionary whose concerns were tightly tied to Canadians in every walk of life in his three pronged policy platform. Where is Mr. Ignatieff in that, as he seeks to be our Prime Minister ??? Only an election and use of power will create hope or continue to smash dreams.