So it appears that the future considerations for Wajid Khan have come in and it is Garth Turner. I am not sure if there were any draft picks to complete the trade.
..."I'm being told that Garth Turner, who was kicked out of the Conservative caucus, and has been sitting as an Independent, is expected to join the Liberal caucus this afternoon," CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported on Newsnet.
"I understand negotiations are ongoing now and Liberal party insiders say that they expect that Mr. Turner and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion will make that announcement this afternoon."
So much for his stance on remaining an independent but all is fair in love and politics. I think this actually makes it easier to win this riding back. If he had remained an independent there would have been some serious vote splitting now we are back to party lines. No doubt that he is the odds on favourite to win the riding as a Liberal back you never know.
Update: RepoCreepo has this story on January 22nd. He speculates that it was lack of fund raising ability. But that, of course, is just speculation.
Update II: The CalgaryGrit is welcoming him with open arms. Not.
Comments (13)
I don’t know whether it’s going to be so easy for him now.
He’d obviously retain Liberal support from 2006, but he needs another 2,000… obviously some CPC-Garthites will follow him, but how many of Garth’s potential supporters (likely ex-CPC) as an independent will be able to stomach him as a Liberal?
Posted by Steve V. | February 6, 2007 11:54 AM
Posted on February 6, 2007 11:54
Just remember..this story was broken on Blogging Tories not too long ago.
Posted by RepoCreepo | February 6, 2007 11:59 AM
Posted on February 6, 2007 11:59
No this deserves a Dick Enberg ‘Oh My!”
Posted by Mike | February 6, 2007 12:22 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 12:22
I think he is going to regret this. He should have waited for the next election (unless this is a sign. Greg? Greg?).
Posted by Greg | February 6, 2007 12:37 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 12:37
A sign of what? That he loves to be the centre of attention?
Posted by Greg Staples | February 6, 2007 12:40 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 12:40
How long will it be until he is booted out of the Liberal caucus for blabbing about caucus confidences on his blog? He should stay an independent MP and undisputed Leader of the Garth Party. Like with Belinda, Liberal misfortune is Conservative good luck in this case, methinks.
Posted by A Canuck in Brussels | February 6, 2007 1:17 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 13:17
a sign of what?
That an election is coming very soon and so running in a by election is not plausible. If that isn’t the case, Turner should have just remained an independent. It will be interesting to see how he spins it.
Posted by Greg | February 6, 2007 1:31 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 13:31
Odd. Turner never struck me as a statist parrot.
Posted by johndoe124 | February 6, 2007 1:40 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 13:40
Go read the comments on his blog,
the single most important fact that brough Garth support was his “populast” principled stance,
so populast that Garth did a poll asking what he should do (the supporters absolutely loved that).
Of all those polled, noone, said he should join the Liberals.
Chester says Garth goes down in flames. Hypocrisy is somewhat expected, but Garth just let out the hot air that was keeping his ballon afloat.
Posted by Chester | February 6, 2007 1:50 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 13:50
Garth Turner on polling his constinuents on what he should do….its so very touching…..and powerful:
“But can one man change the system, I asked? The room thundered in applause amid shouts of “You bet.”
And then we voted.
(1) Resign your seat - zero (2) Negotiate back into caucus – 17 (3) Join the Liberals - zero (4) Go Green – 17 (5) Stay independent – 31
As the room emptied, my hand was shaken. And shaking.”
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/10/21/your-bosses-are-in-this-room/
Posted by Chester | February 6, 2007 2:19 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 14:19
I honestly didn’t expect this. I really thought he’d wait until the next election and decide to run as a Green. Shows what I know.
Posted by Idealistic Pragmatist | February 6, 2007 2:23 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 14:23
Canadian politics is for the birds …
Posted by Werner Patels | February 6, 2007 4:09 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 16:09
Well at least it’s finally not all about Garth.
It’s now about Fortier, Kahn, and Emerson too.
Nice excuse Garth. You are a turd.
Mr Dion, you are desparate man.
Posted by Dr. Strangelove | February 6, 2007 5:15 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 17:15