Dion deposed after debacle
Stephane Dion's time as leader of the Liberal Party might well be done. He will retain the position, but the comments of an anonymous MP quoted by the media suggest that Stephane Dion's days of actually being allowed to lead are essentially over.
That Stephane Dion is finished as leader of the Liberal Party was reported earlier today:
It's only the second time the Liberals have lost the riding [of Outremont] since 1935, and analysts said the loss could raise serious questions about Dion's leadership.
One anonymous Liberal MP pointed out to The Canadian Press that the Liberals' current seat-count in Quebec -- 12 of 75 -- is the lowest since Confederation.
"There are going to have to be changes in the leader's entourage," said the MP.
There is no means by which Stephane Dion can be deposed as leader under these circumstances. A leadership review vote is required after a general election which does not result in a Liberal government, but a by-election loss, or three, does not trigger such a vote.
So Stephane Dion remains as leader. Or does he?
Stephane Dion blew it. He lost Outremont, and lost it badly, allowing the NDP to take 50% of the vote in this most traditional of Liberal ridings, while Dion's handpicked (and appointed) nominee couldn't get past 30%. In Roberval--Lac-Saint-Jean, the Conservatives won six votes for every vote cast for the Liberal candidate. In Saint-Hyacinthe--Bagot, the Liberals came in a humiliating fourth place.
Given these results, these frustrated Liberals are not just demanding that Stephane Dion fire a few people. The Liberals are going to see to it that Stephane Dion's "entourage" is going to be made up of people who can win elections despite Stephane Dion as leader.
Stephane Dion stops being leader and is now an inconvenience for which people will develop workarounds.
I would not be surprised if Stephane Dion found himself surrounded by key people from Michael Ignatieff's team. So yes, the Liberal Party might be stuck with Stephane Dion is the position of leader, but who is actually the leader an entirely unrelated discussion. Stephane Dion might not even be in the room when that discussion takes place.
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Comments
Dion will be asked to step down as Liberal leader, and it will be his friends who supported him in the leadership race. You know, all those old dog Liberals who flocked to Dion because they feared Ignatieff's promise to "renew" (read: purge) the party.
If Dion remains as leader, Liberal popularity will sink like a rock, and that will panic Liberal MPs into shoving Dion out asap. Holding on to Dion is like sinking with the ship, and no politician likes that.
Also grassroots Liberal party members overwhelmingly rejected Dion as their leader, and if he hangs on they will abandon the party in any next general election.
Dion is a total loss, and for Liberals to present him as their choice for prime minister is an insult to all Canadians.
If Quebec doesn't want Dion, why should the rest of Canada?!
Posted by: Observer at September 18, 2007 07:04 AM
Non-partisan comment: What a facinating time for students studying politics: wounded leader, quarelling factions, minority government etc
Partisan comment: This has to be good news for the Conservatives. Anything that keeps the opposition off balance allows PMSH to pick and choose when to throw a punch.
Posted by: Phil in Ottawa at September 18, 2007 07:25 AM
Is the replacement of the liberals with the NDP really a win for Canada?
Posted by: jonny_eh at September 18, 2007 08:10 AM
The Liberal's sense of entitlement astonishes me. While the loss in Outremont is a surprise it is easy to understand.
Ad-scam was the worst political scandal in history. The Libs promised to get every penny back but then when selected a new leader they decided that was enough. The millions stolen are behind us.
In Quebec ,at least there is a feeling of betrayal towards the Liberals. We should all be greatful that in Francophone ridings an alternative federal party is being trusted.
The Liberal party for years argued that they were the only true national party.If it were true then their own deeds ended that.
The rest of the country can do just fine without them as well. But, I'm sure the Libs genuinely believe that the country cannot be great without them.So, they will find an an excuse for their defeat then they in short order will deem it fixed and continue with their self adoration.
Posted by: David at September 18, 2007 08:20 AM
A few things:
a) I'm not sure how tenable a leader-in-name only Dion leadership actually is. In some ways, it's what we've been seeing so far, and partly explains last night's results.
People like Iggy, Rae, and Kennedy have been talking to the press for months as though Dion wasn't even in the room. It's already the problem, to some extent.
b) You gotta love it how people like Cherniak are unilaterally announcing that last night's results will have no impact on Dion's leadership. OK, you keep saying that. The rest of us will call you from Planet Earth in about six months.
c) For those Liberals bemoaning the media reaction this morning, ask yourself this question: Did you care two bits when it was Day, Manning, or Harper who were the victims of media sensationalism? Dion has and will always get more of the benefit of the doubt than conservatives do. That Dion made it this far with his dignity largely intact is a luxury opponents rarely get.
Posted by: Dennis (Second Thots) at September 18, 2007 09:02 AM
CPC voters should hope that Dion stays for the next election, better to battle against him and a divided liberal party than any alternative I can think of. We need a majority CPC gov't.
Posted by: Rich at September 18, 2007 09:04 AM
I hope Dion stays put and the next election features a divided liberal party; we need a CPC majority.
Posted by: Rich at September 18, 2007 09:07 AM
*
steffi... the gift that keeps on giving.
*
Posted by: neo at September 18, 2007 10:03 AM
I don't think Dion will go quietly. He may not be a leader but he appears to be bull-headed and stubborn as a mule. Remember his stand against the separatists when he was reviled by so many of his fellow Quebecois. His skin is not so thin and I don't think he will go down without a fight. Which means that some Liberals might want an election sooner rather than later to get rid of him.
Posted by: muttsrus at September 18, 2007 10:36 AM
1. The only way the Liberals will dump Dion is if Rae & Iggy can come to some sort of agreement where only 1 of them steps up to fill the void by acclemation (e.g. Marois & Duceppe) and Dion willfully resigns. The Liberals can't afford another leadership convention. And I find it really hard to believe that either Iggy or Rae will willfully roll over for the other. Neither of them joined the Liberal Party to be second banana.
2. I don't agree that Dion's cadre will be replaced by Iggy's (or Rae's or Kennedy's for that matter) because those camps want Dion gone. And the only mechanism to trigger a leadership review is for Dion to lose the election. If they manage to win an election with Dion then they are stuck with him. Which no Liberal wants.
Posted by: Reid at September 18, 2007 10:49 AM
The Libs couldn't pull J.C. out of retirement could they? Would he want to?
Posted by: Phil in Ottawa at September 18, 2007 10:58 AM
I agree with some of what Wells says on his blog today. As much as Liberals will want to punish Dion for this awful performance, what alternative do they really have?
I suspect that the party might want to try and install Iggy as leader. That's just a hunch. Yet, if I was a Liberal, would I be confident that the party would be better off in his hands? Are bad by-elections enough of a reason to take that drastic measure?
Bob Rae? Don't think so.
The only reason to get rid of Dion is if you think he's going to blow up the party. I think there's a chance of that, which is why you might risk the lesser of all evils by going another route.
Either way, two years after the last election, the Liberal party is in as big a mess as it's ever been. The leadership race was supposed address the party's problems. It hasn't, neither has the leader.
Would Iggy have instituted the needed reforms? Would the party have been in shape by this time? Probably not.
What a mess.
Posted by: Dennis (Second Thots) at September 18, 2007 11:04 AM
To think that if Judy Sgro hadn't felt sorry for Martha Hall Findlay having so few supporters and pulled over some from Gerard Kennedy to vote for Martha on the 1st ballot, thus leaving Gerard with fewer than Stephane, well, Conservatives might not feel so gleeful today.
Posted by: muttsrus at September 18, 2007 11:08 AM
...Liberals will give new meaning to Cannibalism,,,
Posted by: tomax7 at September 18, 2007 05:41 PM
The Libs have to blame someone, Dion is the fall guy, it isn't his fault they've been self-destructing for over a decade with the Chretien/Martin rivalry. That's where it all festered, Martin can take a huge chunk of the blame for the demise of the Party. In politics you cannot divide and conquer.
Posted by: Libby at September 18, 2007 05:53 PM
I feel that you should replace the leader of the liberals? lorraine gooch
Posted by: loraine gooch at September 18, 2007 06:13 PM
Libby has it half right. That is Steffi is not to blame. However, J. C should take the huge chunk. This man is a hardened criminal that should be behind bars. What J.C. did, should have him locked up for life. If this were America, he would be facing the death penalty for all the theft he orchestrated. Now, he is in China still trying to get us to send billions his way. Where are the R.C.M.P. and why are they protecting this criminal. Paul Martin could see J.C. stealing from the trough and worked to remove him as he should have. To some this looks like dividing the party. However, with a criminal as leader, it was his only option.
Dave Black
a former liberal
Posted by: dave black at September 18, 2007 06:59 PM
This is just a scheme drummed up by the Liberal backroom boys that want to get back into our wallets.
They are a cunning bunch and they have a plan.
Believe half of what you hear and NOTHING that you see.
Iggy in /09 is the plan.
Posted by: zilla at September 18, 2007 08:20 PM
People people .. you miss the irony .... Harper is manipulating the Liberal party and has them on a string ... What is Harper going to do next to mess up the very vulnerable Liberal party ... which must be a lot of fun when you consider all the possibilities ??? ... LOL
Posted by: Observer at September 18, 2007 11:34 PM
Well, Dave, Martin hung in there and tried to skewer JC with the Adscam inquiry but it backfired and he took down the whole Party. What happened to the Shawinigan Shyster? He's squeaky clean, knew nothing, made a mockery of the inquiry and Judge Gomery when he appeared before him, fondling golf balls and acting like the prick he is,with his smart-ass lawyer and toady Eddy Goldenberg laughing his little head off, disgusting, low class and purely contemptible behavior.
Posted by: Libby at September 19, 2007 07:05 AM
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Posted by: aswkin at July 17, 2008 04:11 AM
 
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