In the wake of the huge Liberal win in Ontario, you have to pity a couple of Johns. Tory and Rapin to be precise. Tory of course lost his own riding. And Rapin, running against John Gerretsen, finished a distant second in Kingston and the Islands. Rapin's optimism prior to the election was admirable, if naive. Kingston, home of Queen's University, has for years been a strong Liberal riding. On October 2nd, after John Tory had flip-flopped on religious school funding, Rapin was duly impressed.
Rapin says changing the party's central platform -- so late in the campaign -- is an act of political courage...."I think it shows leadership, he's willing to take advice and listen and recognize that as much as this is dear to him... that there are a lot of concerned people out there."After the election, Team Rapin was singing a different tune. According to Rapin's campaign office manager:
“If John Tory wasn’t the leader of this party, we would have won this riding. As a matter of fact, if John Tory hadn’t opened his fucking mouth, we would have won this riding.”Umm, ok. Whatever...
And former PM Jean Chretien has released new memoirs in which he comes down hard on his eventual successor Paul Martin. I for one am glad to see the Little Guy come out swinging. Mr. Dither's (not so) behind-the-scenes maneuvering to oust Chretien was nothing short of deplorable. In his zeal to become Prime Minister, Martin fomented a revolution of sorts, and created deep and destructive divisions within the party.
So when Martin's spokesman Jim Pimblett expresses concern that "old divisions are being revisited at a time when the Liberal Party needs to stand unified behind (Liberal leader Stephane) Dion”, the irony is almost unbearable. I wonder if Martin now wishes he had taken Pimblett's advice so many years ago?
9 comments:
Ah, the esteemed Dr. Rapin...as you know I remember him well. What was most interesting about the Journal article was the mention that he was surrounded by "about" 5 supporters at campaign HQ. 5 supporters? Perhaps they were the last 5 guys to wander out of the Hotel Dieu Emerg at closing time. Anyways, I guess you have to have respect for a right winger willing to run in a safe Liberal seat because of what he believes in. I'm very glad the Liberals won, but I must admit to being impressed that John Tory dared to run as a Conservative in Toronto, a city which has not elected a federal or provincial Conservative member in 5 elections.
As for Chretien's book, I look forward to reading it. His testimony was the highlight of the Gomery comission. It is astonishing to think of the damage the Martin's searing ambition caused. When he took over, the house effectively had 5 opposition parties and no government...no wonder things went downhill for the Liberals. The divisions and internal warfare are clearly continuing. I doubted that Martin would make a good PM, but I could never have guessed that the Liberal party could go from majority government with massive public support and strong economy to directionless opposition party in only 2 years.
BTW, I love the new video. You should follow it up with the David Caruso scene from the 40 Year Old Virgin if you can find the clip. It was funniest part of the movie in my opinion.
MD - Yes, that article was another pearl from the good ol' Queen's Urinal. Don't scoff at the 5 supporters! Combined with his campaign staffers that room probably represented the lion's share of Rapin's vote!
I did find it quite funny that Team Rapin so vehemently turned against John Tory once the dust had settled. Maybe they were just pissed that an emerg doc couldn't outperform a hillbilly nutbar like Randy Hillier.
And as for the Chretien book, I agree it will be interesting. It chaps my ass to no end to see Martinites like Pimblett putting on this faux atrabilious air and pleading for more "Liberal unity". What the hell do these guys know about Liberal unity?? Truly ironic...
MD - You should follow it up with the David Caruso scene from the 40 Year Old Virgin
Hmmm, I don't remember that scene...
But YouTube has a funny clip of Jim Carrey doing a Caruso impression on the Letterman show.
Ah, thanks for the link. I hadn't seen this article.
Yes indeed it's rich, what Pimblett is quoted as saying.
Geesh, if Dellacourt is writing about this stuff, I can't imagine what awaits us in the days to come.
Looks like an interesting book, but as with Mulroney's, I suspect all memories are selective.
Just sayin...:).
KNB - Looks like an interesting book, but as with Mulroney's, I suspect all memories are selective.
True enough. But I get the distinct impression that Lyin' Brian was at his core a deeply suspicious and bitter man. I never got that vibe from Chretien, although clearly he was personally hurt by Martin's actions.
Admittedly, however, I have read neither of their memoirs. Mulroney's might make good kindling on a cold winter's night...
I don't appreciate your video of David Caruso. He's a well respected actor and I HATE when people like you post him all over your blogs mocking his acting abilities. He's just trying to make a living! LEAVE DAVID CARUSO ALONE!!! :'(
Ah. Chris Crocker makes an appearance...
David Caruso is a tool.
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