Friday, April 03, 2009

Brison on Ignatieff

Scott Brison on Michael Ignatieff:


OTTAWA -- Michael Ignatieff was portrayed Wednesday as a gaffe-prone amateur by at least one Liberal leadership rival after the presumed front-runner was forced to clarify his latest controversial comment.

In the most pointed broadside yet against the acclaimed academic, Scott Brison said Ignatieff's repeated miscues suggest the rookie MP has poor political judgment and insufficient experience to lead a national party.

"These gaffes are damaging to a leadership campaign but they will be terminal to a national general election campaign," Brison said in an interview.


That was from a Canadian Press story from Wed. Aug. 30 2006 where Brison was speaking about Ignatieff's comment to the Toronto Star editorial board who asked him if he would run for Parliament again if he loses the leadership, Ignatieff's clipped response was: "Depends who's leader."

Ignatieff later backtracked and said "Let's be clear. I am planning to run in the next election in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. I love being an MP and I've enjoyed it enormously and I'm looking forward to doing it again."

Brison had more:

"Brison said that in nine years in politics he hasn't made as many "retractions and clarifications" as Ignatieff has made in just nine months.

Brison compared Ignatieff to Stockwell Day, who jumped from provincial politics to become leader of the now-defunct Canadian Alliance without any experience at the federal level.

Day's tenure at the helm of the Alliance, which eventually merged with the Progressive Conservatives to form the Conservative party, was short-lived and disastrous.

Brison said Ignatieff is "smarter than Stockwell," now Harper's minister of public safety. But he added Ignatieff faces an even steeper learning curve, having spent almost 30 years out of the country as an academic and journalist.

Brison took Ignatieff to task for other recent so-called gaffes, including telling the Star that Canadians "live and operate in a heartless world and you need leadership that understands that."

"When you see the world as being heartless, that helps someone justify ruthless acts," such as Qana, Brison said.

He also chided Ignatieff for saying that Canada's peacekeeping tradition "died" with the genocide in Rwanda.

Brison said that remark could only come from someone who's spent 30 years outside the country and fails to appreciate how important peacekeeping is to Canadians and to Liberals in particular, who view party icon Lester Pearson as the father of peacekeeping.

He also scoffed at Ignatieff's recent admission that he's not sure he's "up to the price you have to pay" to succeed in politics."



So in 2006 Brison thought that Ignatieff did not have sufficient experience to lead a national party.

I wonder if yesterdays story about Ignatieff's rookie mistake on policy and subsequent lie makes Scott feel any better about Ignatieff's political skills now vs 2006?

I doubt it.

10 comments:

Bec said...

It just goes to show that the LIEberals, eat their 'young'. Sometimes out in the open and other times, behind the cage, out of sight.

Anonymous said...

If Scott Brison, MP (who has been a hyperactive party liner since joining the Liberals) has public doubts about Ignatieff, you have to then wonder who else is thinking in those same terms. There must be a growing unease and discontent in the back rooms. Couldn't happen to a finer bunch, wonder if anyone has the intestinal fortitude to mount a floor campaign to run for leader at the convention. Entertainment value supreme, I give it 4 stars out of 5 rating.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to know why, so far, Ignatieff is unopposed for the leader of the Liberal party. What is going on, here? I am surprised that Brison is not going for the top job.

Anon is correct - if Brison has doubts, how many others are having the same?

Anonymous said...

Mr Brison should go back to from whence he came - the tory party ! given the craven deal made between Ignatieff-kinsella-metcalfe to return the liberal party to spin 24/7, mr Brison would do better inside the larger tent

Anonymous said...

I am the Anon who posted at 7:50 - the Anon who posted at 8:37 must be a disgruntled Liberal. I thought Scott Brison was an assest and coup for the Liberals. Remember the crowing about his defection from the Conservatives? I remind you that he is a "valued" critic for your party - he's always getting face time with the press. Well, all you Liberals are welcome to Mr. Brison and his candor. Amazing how the tune changes when the criticism comes from within. Methinks this is a case of Garth Turner Syndrome. ps I am a newbie on this internet ID stuff - have tried a number of times to get my ID up on this type of comment site and I keep getting refused. I will eventually figure it out or admit defeat and get the children to help. Cheers Fernstalbert.

Ardvark said...

In this case I think Brison was correct in 2006 and remains correct in 2009.

Anonymous said...

Wholly crap - that was 2006. Hello, it's 2009 and people learn. Well, intelligent people learn and con supporters live in the past including their brains.

This is petty at best

Bec said...

Anony @ 12:46 pm

What are you talking about? 2006 or 2009, this guy is in the Liberal caucus.
These same people, rehash comments and alleged activities, made by conservatives, 20 years ago. Different party,different players.

These 2 people are active participants, in a CURRENT political climate.
Talk about double standard, you guys wrote the book.
Just spin, spin, spin and keep yourselves, dizzy ostriches.

Anonymous said...

What anon @12:46 meant was fogedabowtit!
The media does, so we should too!!

bluetech

Ardvark said...

12:46 Anon. Put aside 2006 for a minute and look at 2009 where Iggy said that asbestos should be banned only to reverse himself later and lie about his first statement.

He hasn't learned a thing and Brison is still correct.