It is no surprise that Maurizio Bevilacqua is leaving the Liberal leadership race but I am surprised by who he is casting his support behind - Bob Rae. From what I has read of Mr. Bevilacqua I would have put him on the right side of the party, economically at least. Could a former NDPer have moved that far in from the left or did I have Mr. Bevilacqua pegged incorrectly? And from outside appearances it looks like Mr. Rae is doing better that I figured he would.
Update: Then there is this:
...If what I'm hearing from folks on voicemail is any indication, Maurizio's ability to deliver any of his support to Bob Rae is somewhere between slim and none.
Comments (13)
IMO, Mario is about as right wing – fiscally – a Liberal as there is. Maybe Rae has finally turned 40 mentally. Churchill (?) said if you’re not a Liberal in your 20’s you don’t have a heart, if you’re not conservative by 40 you don’t have a brain.
However, it took Rae too long to “get it”. Slow learners should not be leaders , even of Liberals.
Posted by nomdenet | August 14, 2006 11:34 AM
Posted on August 14, 2006 11:34
Rae would have been just about my last guess of someone for Bevilacqua to support. Never a dull moment.
Posted by BBS | August 14, 2006 11:39 AM
Posted on August 14, 2006 11:39
Pace Occam’s Razor, how about a simple explanation? Perhaps Bevilacqua believes in nothing in particular, but merely adopts policy positions and backs candidates purely out of political expediency.
And Rae still doesn’t “get it.” He blames his failure as premier on the Recession and calls it a “learning experience.” And it only cost Ontario taxpayers another $40 B onto the debt!
Posted by Joan Tintor | August 14, 2006 1:17 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 13:17
Bevilacqua is Right on the economy, but not on most other things. Sometimes, politics makes strange alliances.
Posted by E J hosdil | August 14, 2006 1:42 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 13:42
To be fair the impact of CUFTA was probably worst in Ontario, and for good measure the Bank of Canada did deliberately cause a recession for monetary reasons.
On the other hand Rae should have known that classical Keynesian economic levers really don’t work in a globalized world (although, to be fair the late-era Victorians were rather more globalized then us).
He’s to blame, yes. But not the only one.
Posted by Keller | August 14, 2006 2:23 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 14:23
If I had to guess, Rae was the only one ready to promise Bevilacqua the Finance portfolio.
This doesn’t make any sense otherwise.
Posted by Brandon Langhjelm | August 14, 2006 2:45 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 14:45
Yours seems a very reasonable explanation Brandon.
Posted by Greg Staples | August 14, 2006 3:02 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 15:02
Bevilacqua shares the same riding as Greg Sorbara, Ontario Minister of Finance and Rae supporter.
Sorbara and his provincial riding association (no doubt with lots of cross-over supporters) would have been working at Bevilacqua for some time, emphasizing how big a role Bevilacqua could have in an economic role in their campaign.
I suspect also that Sorbara swept up the riding with Rae memberships like Smitherman did in Toronto Centre, leaving Bevilacqua with the prospect of a riding membership that wouldn’t support him if he didn’t go Rae.
Ted Cerberus
Posted by Ted | August 14, 2006 4:03 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 16:03
Nomdenet
Churchill may have made that comment, but I think Clemenceau said it before him.
Posted by The Fog is Clearing | August 14, 2006 6:09 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 18:09
Bob was always a Liberal in an orange tie. His betrayal of labour drove a lot of working people out of the DP for quite a while, me included (but I’m back … he’ll never be allowed back in.)
Posted by B. Ross Ashley | August 14, 2006 6:36 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 18:36
Pardon, that should have been NDP.
Posted by B. Ross Ashley | August 14, 2006 6:37 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 18:37
Doesn’t really matter.. the race is still boring. Although like most NDP leaders (past & present) I like Rae as a person.
Posted by Darth Usurpus | August 14, 2006 7:08 PM
Posted on August 14, 2006 19:08
Remember, it’s all about power. Something makes Bevilacqua think that Rae is most likely to win. Supporting him now leaves him “in” with the boss later. Policy and platform always takes second place to power with these guys… The most interesting part of this is the question of what factors make Bevilacqua think Rae will win? (Other than a 10-month “leadrship race” giving maximum free publicity time)
Posted by Mad Mike | August 15, 2006 8:47 AM
Posted on August 15, 2006 08:47