I know I said earlier that I hoped Bob Rae would be picked as the new Liberal leader. But I've changed my mind. I want Joe Volpe. (h/t Lunch Pale)
...Others are also quietly building and tending networks, including Mr. Volpe, the most active member of the current cabinet. His background as an organizer for Mr. Martin and his Immigration portfolio have given him a connection to ethnic-community leaders.
For example, after a cabinet retreat in Winnipeg at the end of August, Mr. Volpe and his senior aides attended a dinner of about 60 Indo-Canadian community leaders, mostly with Liberal ties, organized by Paul Dhillon, the uncle of Brampton MP Ruby Dhalla.
Senior Liberal organizers insist that Mr. Volpe has already lined up some organizers for a bid, such as Sukh Dhaliwal, who ran in Surrey's Newton-North Delta riding in 2004. Mr. Dhaliwal could not be reached for comment. And Mr. Volpe has hired Earl Provost, a former Ontario leadership organizer for Mr. Martin.
Close associates of Mr. Volpe insist he is merely doing a minister's job, but some privately acknowledge that he is keeping his options open.
I would love to see how the Liberals (and their allies) could spin Joe Volpe into a likeable guy. As I've also said before, I try to respectful on my blog, but Volpe I can't help myself - he's a big-time jerk. And I don't anyone would argue with that.
By the way, good for the Globe and Mail for reporting on this. Ask yourself, what is more serious, a few insignificant party members wanting the leader to be replaced, or Cabinet Ministers actively firing up their leadership campaigns.
Unless PM Martin wins a majority next time around he's done.
