Coderre story, developing

About an hour ago, I would have safely predicted that when Michael Ignatieff talked of "consequences" for Denis Coderre, we were probably going to see  thef former Quebec lieutenant  kicked out of caucus.

Now I'm not so sure.  Shortly after Ignatieff issued that warning, Coderre responded with this Facebook post.

Denis Coderre souhaite que les libéraux se rendent nombreux au Congrès du PLC(Q) dimanche à Québec. Ma démission doit être interprété comme une incapacité à faire mon travail de lieutenant point. Il n'y a jamais eu de problèmes au Québec ou avec le Québec . ...J'ai toujours confiance en Michael Ignatieff et suis heureux qu'il a dit que maintenant ce qui touche le Québec sera réglé entre lui et les autorités québécoises.

Roughly translated, it sounds like a truce message. He's saying he wants Liberals to turn out in large numbers for Sunday's gathering of Quebec Liberals and that he remains loyal to Ignatieff and his way of handling things in the province.

Comments

[Mike-D]

Re: "He's saying he wants Liberals to turn out in large numbers for Sunday's gathering of Quebec Liberals and that he remains loyal to Ignatieff and his way of handling things in the province."

Even more roughly translated, "Do like I say, not like I do" (from today's online Globe and Mail: "And Mr. Coderre isn't finished yet. On Sunday, he is to appear on the wildly popular Radio Canada television show, Tout Le Monde En Parle . The program attracts an audience of more than one million viewers in Quebec. It is not clear what Mr. Coderre will say – whether he will go on the offensive or show contrition. Liberals will just have wait and see. Asked about that, Mr. Ignatieff , who has had little or no contact with his MP since his announcement, said, 'Mr. Coderre knows what the Liberal Party is. Mr. Coderre knows what is expected of him.' While Mr. Coderre will be speaking to thousands of Quebeckers Sunday, Mr. Ignatieff will be meeting with Quebec Liberals at their convention in Quebec City.")

[Joseph K. Mayer]

Susan,
Unfortunately for Canadians and the Liberal Party, every minute Mr. Ignatieff and other party officials spend on this issue is a minute that could have been used to spell out how they would do things differently. In the absence of that information, it is little wonder that public opinion is "trending" the way it is.

If it is to turn things around, the Liberal Party needs to change the channel, demonstrating the competence of its team and providing more details about how they would govern. Clearly, simply relying on people to turn away from, and vote AGAINST, the Conservative Party is not working (quite the reverse). The Liberal Party must also give people tangible reasons to vote FOR them.
Yours,
Joe

[Wascally Wabbit]

I agree.
It's a little late - and there may be some white noise around to blur the edges some - but if there was ever a time for Michael Ignatieff to roll out the policy platform - and give the media fenzy some raw meat to chew on - it's NOW!

Better late THAN NEVER Michael!

[NB Sparrow]

Looks like another logo problem! Tim Hortons new logo looks like Conservative logo!
http://www.drawscene.com/timlogo1.png

[Donald Bruce Smith]

I rather doubt that Mr. ignatieff is in a postion to do anything other then nothing, all he will be able to do is talk big and walk small.

Recent polls taken in Quebec shows that the survey, conducted between Sept. 17-27 -- before Denis Coderre's noisy resignation as Quebec lieutenant Monday -- shows the party continuing to lose favour among Quebec voters. After hitting 35% support among Quebecers in June, the Liberals were at 30% in August and now have slid to 26%.

That 26% is just two points higher than the numbers that Mr. Dion won in the last election.

One more push will drop Mr. Ignatiff off the Quebec map and will allow Mr. Layton to stop supporting the Conservatives.