Monday, September 14, 2009

"I could be sitting here as your prime minister, but I turned it down.."

“I could be sitting here as your prime minister, but I turned it down because I didn’t think it was right for someone who believes in the national unity of my country to make a deal with people who want to split the country up,”

The above was said in March 2009, on September 10th he used a similar line at least 2 times in his press conference, and on the 11th he again went before the cameras and repeated it at least 2 separate times in both official languages.

I think that this would have to qualify as Michael Ignatieff's favorite quote and I expect him to use it again in the upcoming days or weeks.

I have a problem with it though.

Is he sure that he would have been PM and that Jack and Gilles would not have a say in the matter? I am not sure that he is/was aware because according to one of his MP's he never read the agreement before he signed it?

John McCallum speaks on Ignatieff signing on to the coalition agreement.




Related: Other posts on John McCallum Here and Here.

33 comments:

maryT said...

The next time he says this, someone should ask him how that would have happened. Dion was leader of the liberals during the coup.
That stmt has as much credibility as Lizzie saying she could have been an MP in Nova Scotia, or will be an MP in B.C.

Anonymous said...

I don't recall him ever being presented with the opportunity to become Prime Minister simply by agreeing to it.
If he's referring to going before the Governor General to ask that she allow the coalition to form a government then he's assuming that she would have said yes and that's a huge assumption.
NeilD

fernstalbert said...

Thankyou MaryT for pointing out the obvious. Now we can add delusional to Michael Ignatieff's list of attributes. Besides the glaring fact that Dion was the Liberal leader at that time, who is to say that the GG would have gone along with the preposterous scheme of a coup with the Separtists as minority shareholders. "An intellectual is someone whose mind watches itself." Albert Camus

Gayle said...

"If he's referring to going before the Governor General to ask that she allow the coalition to form a government then he's assuming that she would have said yes and that's a huge assumption."

I love this argument. It totally negates that whole "CPC v. coalition" meme the CPC are trying to push.

If a coalition was not a sure thing in January, it will not be a sure thing in November, or ever.

Not that it looks like you will have to worry yourselves over an election. Looks like Layton and Harper may have worked out a deal. Nothing says "the coalition is dead" louder than an NDP/CPC deal.

Anonymous said...

Every time I listen to Ignatieff I am reminded of words from Plato.
"wise men speak when they have something to say, Fools speak when they have to say something"
Please keep talking mr Ignatieff. It will get you a job back in the USA that much quicker!

Calgary Junkie said...

"because I didn’t think it was right for someone who believes in the national unity of my country to make a deal with people who want to split the country up,”

So who is the "someone" that Iggy is refering to ?

Answer: It can only be Dion.

1. It was DION who negotiated the coalition deal, NOT Iggy.
2. We all know Dion was a passionate defender of Canada, effectively arguing against the seperatists. Has Iggy ever done that ?
3. The spin from McCallum is that Iggy was just being a good team player when he signed on. In fact,Iggy didn't even READ the document !

So was Iggy calling all the shots, or was he just going along for the ride ? Which is it ?

Anonymous said...

Regardless of whether or not Iggy actually read the document before signing (and that thought alone is a little scary), every time he repeats this statement he sounds weak and whiney, in a "I coulda been a contender" kinda way.

Ardvark said...

What deal?

Did I miss the news story that said that PM Harper was going to change his cabinet with six ministers appointed from within the NDP caucus, plus six Parliamentary Secretaries, sworn in as Privy Councillors, will also be named from the NDP caucus. In the event the Prime Minister chooses to appoint a larger cabinet, the NDP proportion will be maintained.

Link please?

Ardvark said...

Ignatieff signed on to an agreement that he didn't read, not for the good of the country but because he was loyal to the party.

What a fine example of leadership that is.

Gayle said...

The deal that allows Harper to continue governing, and Layton to escape an election.

No one claimed it was a coalition government - just an agreement.

Gayle said...

If the NDP vote in favour of Harper, and against the LPC, how does Harper claim they are going to form a coalition in some mythical future?

Of course, I have no idea whether or not the NDP will support Harper - just that it is starting to look that way with Harper's EI plan meeting some of Layton's objectives, and I highly doubt either Layton or Harper want to go into an election with the NDP numbers down.

Ardvark said...

Again what deal?

The Liberals supported every confidence motion for the last 3 1/2 years, did they have a deal with the Conservatives?

wilson said...

So then Gayle:
'If the NDP vote in favour of Harper, how does Iffy claim Cons are not co-operative and can not make a minority work?'.

Which of course is a rediculous theme anyways,
seeing as PMSH has the longest running minority in Canadian history.

He did so by getting one of 3 opposition parties to support the government at various time, which is EXACTLY what makes a minority parliament work.
When the opps formed the coalition of losers to stop Harper, they lost then too.

Ardvark said...

If, and it still is a big if, the NDP support the reno tax credit or EI changes while the Liberals vote against them in order to continue with the political games, just who do you think is going to be the one looking bad in the eyes of the voters?

BTW any comment on what McCallum said on Roy Green's show about Ignatieff signing on to the coalition without knowing any details?

wilson said...

So now that Dippers have put Canadians ahead of self interest,
will Dippers and Liberals quit beating each other with the 'evil Harper stick'?

Will Dippers and Liberals get over their failed marriage and get back to work?

wilson said...

''BTW any comment on what McCallum said on Roy Green's show about Ignatieff signing on to the coalition without knowing any details?''

Oh yah, because 'Iffy can do better'!

Watched Finley/Blackburn announcement, and I can say with 100% confidence,
this Government definitely 'did better' than the Liberals EI360,
beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Ardvark said...

"Watched Finley/Blackburn announcement, and I can say with 100% confidence,
this Government definitely 'did better' than the Liberals EI360,
beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Wilson, how many Liberal MP's are thinking the same thing right about now?

That sound you hear is the fractures in the LPC expanding and don't be surprised that a good portion of their caucus come down with the flu the next time there is a confidence vote.

Gayle said...

AA - I think you know full well the LPC did NOT support every confidence motion. They abstained. I know that it had the same effect - legislation was passed, but it is wrong to say they supported it.

Where they did support legislation - such as the Afghanistan extension, or the last budget, there was a deal.

Wilson, you, too, know full well why the LPC supported the legislation. They were broke, their numbers were down, and they were divided. They had no choice, and they knew it. Not a particularly stellar time in history for that party.

That is the position the NDP find themselves in now. The difference is that while on one hand it was in Harper's interest to marginalize the LPC, it is definatly not in his interest to do that with the NDP. Hence the appearance of giving in to some of the more innocuous demands of the NDP in return for their support.

"BTW any comment on what McCallum said on Roy Green's show about Ignatieff signing on to the coalition without knowing any details?"

Nope

wilson said...

'Wilson, how many Liberal MP's are thinking the same thing right about now?'

Well, judging by how much debate there ISN'T at kady's and all those bloggers who give LibDippers a place to attack the government,
LOTS agree.
PMSH and this government DID BETTER, by far, the coalitions EI360.

Anonymous said...

Gayle,Gayle,Gayle you will never heal yourself if you keep trying to defend the corruption called Liberal.Do you have a co-worker(Liberal S--t disturber)called Ti-guy//)You both sound alike in your defense of the corruption party er Liberals.Do you work all Conservative blogs or just a few??Anyhow most people just ignore you,but i sort of feel sorry for you and like to offer some kind advice even to my enemies.My advice to you is get a life and start taking your pills,your backing a corrupt party and you don't even know it.Just take the pills and come back and we will explain how corrupt they are.That a girl you can do it,go home and take your pills.

wilson said...

''Wilson, you, too, know full well why the LPC supported the legislation. They were broke, their numbers were down, and they were divided.''

Well cry me a river Gayle.

There's a reason they were broke, divided and at 26% in the polls.....
'cuz they suck big time,
as the Adscam government and as the opposition with a leader AND platform Canadians thought was lame.

Oh, and I want to remind you too Gayle,
the GreenShaft was originally Iffy's number 1 lib leadership policy.

So Libs still have the guy that brought you the Big Idea, GreenShaft, in charge.

Gayle said...

I am stating facts wilson, not making excuses.

Maybe you do not know the difference.

Hi anon/biff.

wilson said...

Ok Gayle.
Facts:
1.Liberals stole Canadian taxpayer money and gave it to Liberal friendly ad firms, who funneled it back into LPC coffers, and Liberal candidates, to buy off Quebec.
Canadians booted them out of office.

2. But first, Chretien changed the donation laws to paper over corruption in his government, and in doing so, Liberals found out that ordinary Canadians were not supporting them,
businesses and union were,
so they pretty much went broke.

3. The newly elected Liberal leader was not acceptable to Canadians and neither was Iffy's Big Idea called the GreenShaft.
So Canadians rewarded Liberals with their worst showing in 100years.

4. Not being able to accept a second defeat, knowing they have a devine right to own government, EVERY Liberal made a choice to join with the other losers and form a coalition to steal power.
Canadians ONCE AGAIN said stop!

5. Sure that is was ONLY their new leader that made the coalition of losers unpalatable.....out with Mr Nobody, in with Mr Wonderful, don't ask the grassroots because they were wrong last time.
And they are still where they were in the polls after Dion was 'elected', and with a recession as a back drop.

How's that working for yah Gayle?
Factual enough?

wilson said...

One more fact for yah Gayle:

New poll today
Cons 39
Libs 30

http://news.globaltv.com/world/Latest+poll+gives+Tories+point+lead+over+Grits/1993217/story.html

Gayle said...

Hey wilson - with those great poll numbers, I am sure Harper will put in a poison pill to make sure Layton will not support him on a confidence motion. I mean, here he is, majority for the taking...

And yet, for some strange reason he is making nice with Layton. Funny that...

wilson said...

Well Gayle,
in January 2010, Conservatives will hold a majority in the Senate,
and then there's the Olympics,
and then there is the recovery budget....so laugh away.

Gayle said...

Yeah, it is just so important to me who is in government during the Olympics.

maryT said...

Iggy made a compete fool of himself several time today. Wonder how Tom Clark will get even for his action on Power Play today.
Nice to know he was awake for the first part of that horrible speech.

And congratulations to Paul Hinman, going back to Edmonton as an MLA.

Anonymous said...

I see that the Queen of Liberal Trolls aka Gayle has shown up here to garner some much needed attention.
How long will it be before she claims that Harper caused her fathers cancer like she's done at Janke's AGWN?

Ardvark said...

Gayle you should get the Liberal candidate in Edmonton Strathcona to go with the slogan a vote for NDP Linda Duncan is a vote for Ryan Hastman. It is a sure winner with this secret deal and all.


"BTW any comment on what McCallum said on Roy Green's show about Ignatieff signing on to the coalition without knowing any details?"

"Nope"

That one was even too much for you was it. LOL.

Gayle said...

I just could not be bothered to listen to it. I know these things are super duper important to you, but I just do not care. The coalition is dead - and Harper and Layton just killed any chance of playing off the coalition in the next election.

Ardvark said...

"I just could not be bothered to listen to it."

It has nothing at all to do with the coalition Gayle and everything to do with being competent. Maybe you like to sign legal documents without reading them just because your friends told you do so, but if Ignatieff did it he is not fit to even run a lemonade stand.

Rich said...

Gayle; just a point of clarification, this is a minority government and parties do support the government on certain issues that the deem beneficial to the Canadian people. On the EI the NDP have been pushing for changes, this is how a minority government should work. Paul Martin did the same thing with NDP in 2005 to save his government, by providing 4.6 billion dollars for housing and education. A coalition which is what the Libs/NDP/Bloc tried to do was just that a coalition because the dippers would get seats in cabinet.