I guess only Canadians who were born in Canada and lived their whole lives in Canada should be eligible to become the prime minister. If you have ever vacationed in Florida or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you should be disqualified.

excellent post!

I can't imagine the anyone drawing a parallel between Gandhi and Iggy……but I give them full marks trying.
Can we spell d-e-s-p-a-r-a-t-e?

The parallel, is ridiculous and THAT voice, bloody awful.

I have to wonder what it says about the LPOC that they had absolutely no one in the country, or in their caucus that could have been a good pick for party leader? Is the talent pool so dried up that they saw Ignatieff as their vaulted leader?

Any Canadian that says …'as sure as I am sitting here, I will be Prime Minister'
had better be prepared to prove he is fit for the job.

Perhaps if Iffy.me had spent his last 34 years in politics, in any country, he would be qualified.
Perhaps if he had not lost the Lib leadership race to Dion,
Perhaps if he had not taken advantage of a party crisis,
pushed Rae and Domie out of his way and thrust himself into the winners circle,
without being elected by the Liberal grassroots,
Perhaps if he had not reversed nearly ever decision he has made,
he would qualify.

Yah see mjbednar,

It's not that being out of the country disqualifies Iffy.me from becoming Prime Minister,
it's that there isn't anything he has done or said ,
that qualifies him.

The LPC executives/brains were looking for an image.

Take a little Dipper policy stir in a little Conservative policy,
and find yourself a great salesman.

mjbednar, what an absolutely stupid comment.
In the USA one must be born in the country to become President.
In Canada a potential PM should have at least lived here for at least 20 years, and been involved in politics and a party for more than a yr or so. Just who was the so called genius who invited him back and promisd him the PMship. And how dumb is he to believe he could do it. There will be an election, he will not just be parachuted into office. Maybe they told him they planned a coup and he would be it, no quesstions asked.
Took him over 5 months to come up with reasons why the coup was bad, PMSH did it in 24 hours.

Stephen, I think there is a typo in the title of your post. Shouldn't that read:

Is Michael Ignatieff the next Gumby?

LOL

Yes Cat. All those who would qualify had to much to do with Chretien and the sponsorship scandal. People might just remember that.

This is too pathetic for words. To compare Czar Iggy with Gandhi is an insult to the dead.

Are the Libs trying to say that if Iggy takes over the country will split apart and hundreds of thousands will die in a civil war?

I reserve judgement. I won’t be able to adequately compare til I see Igbert shave his dome and wear a pair of those fancy schmancy shorts.

Living abroad doesn’t make you less Canadian; however, 34 years away can leave you a little out of touch.

Rarely a week passes that Iggy doesn’t say something that reinforces that weakness. One of Iggy’s challenges is that he is a little too patrician for the average Molson Canuck and the ads poke us from that direction.

Oh, and he is a carpetbagger. Even the Liberals I know hate those.

I sincerely believe Liberals do not know how to handle the truth ads.

They knew Iffy's great and wonderful 34 year adventure would be an issue, it was during the leadership race Iffy lost. to Dion.

Am I missing something, or is not the easy response to all this is to list all the things Ignatieff has done for Canada. Are there no charitable contributions and activities he can point that he did in Canada. Policy papers he wrote about Canada giving advise to the government of the day. Is there nothing he can point to that shows he was engaged in what was going on in his home land.

There has got to be something, right?

Poor wilson – still trying to establish yourself as some sort of political analyst.

I do hope you run with that whole “Ignatieff is not qualified to be PM” thing. You should make sure you use the term “Iffy” rather than Ignatieff as well.

You see, there may be reasons not to vote for Michael Ignatieff's party, but the suggestion that he is not eminently qualified for the job is clearly and obviously not one of them.

So please, get your people to try to make that argument. It will only add to the general perception of their desperation.

Am I missing something, or is not the easy response to all this is to list all the things Ignatieff has done for Canada. Are there no charitable contributions and activities he can point that he did in Canada. Policy papers he wrote about Canada giving advise to the government of the day. Is there nothing he can point to that shows he was engaged in what was going on in his home land.

There has got to be something, right?

Amazing!

I didn’t know Ignatieff had sooooo much in common with Ghandi.

For millions of us, Ghandi has been an inspiration for generations.

Ignatieff? I never knew he existed until a few months ago.

Weird.

Gayle, maybe thye need to run ads on these public figures as well:

ALSO APPARENTLY “JUST VISITING”

——————————————————————————–

Thursday, May 21, 2009, 03:39 AM
• ABLONCZY, The Hon. Diane, P.C., B.Ed., LL.B. Date of Birth: 1949.05.06. Place of Birth: Peoria, Illinois, United States.
• MARK, Inky, B.A., B.Ed. Date of Birth: 1947.11.17. Place of Birth: Toysun, China.
• OBHRAI, Deepak. Date of Birth: 1950.07.05. Place of Birth: Oldeani, Tanzania.
• SHORY, Devinder. Date of Birth: 1958.08.03. Place of Birth: Punjab, India.
• TOEWS, The Hon. Vic, P.C., B.A., LL.B. Date of Birth: 1952.09.10. Place of Birth: Fildelfia, Paraguay.
• WONG, Alice, Ph.D. Date of Birth: 1948.06.30. Place of Birth: Hong Kong.

thanks to Warren Kinsella for that list which will grow.

here's the real professional in person answering to the attacks. I don't see Hsrper making his attacks in person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGifqWMeZIA&eurl…

No but we can spell S P O O F I N G the idiot conservatives paying stupid politics.

Your talent pool was so dried up you picked Harper.

Mary T…your commentis even more stupid. To say someone should live here for 20 years before being allowed to run for public office disgraces the citizenship we award talented people who come to this country as well as those who go abroad to learn and do business for extended periods. Iggy did live in Canada for 20 years of his early life. Angry tories are getting really desperate now AND GRASPING AT ANY STRAW.

Of course there will be an election and Harper is trying desperately trying to avoid facing voters again after his unethical election call and porogation last year. He is cancelling opposition days in the hope he can have the summer to pork barrel his way back to popularity. He is dead man walking and will only screw up the country even more.
the buzz from Montreal is that there were not really 2000 paid attendees in the crowd as many were party faithful recruited to fill the room and that piad attendence was around 750 people. More shame on this party.

Another question? Is Harper the next Mulroney?

Revanche, more amazing is that Iggy is now more popular than your soon to be disgraced leader.

Stephen , you should have highlighted this U Tube blog as well;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttadqbx4yEU&feat…

Pointless comment. Let's try to be rational and reasonable, shall we?

Deja VU?:

THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS THEN, TOO

——————————————————————————–

Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 10:24 AM
This Conservative MP having the guts to say what a lot of Conservatives think reminded me of the story below.

Good on ya, Cathy McLeod. Any other Conservatives feel likewise? Names withheld on request.

…

Elxn-Tory-Ad-Reaxn
Canadian Press Newswire
Friday, October 15, 1993

By Jim Sheppard

OTTAWA (CP) – Conservative cabinet ministers, MPs and candidates across the country joined en masse Friday in the widespread criticism of their own party over controversial television ads attacking Liberal Leader Jean Chretien.

The ads were later pulled by Prime Minister Kim Campbell, who also offered an apology to Chretien. The ads featured close-ups of Chretien's facial paralysis and suggested Canadians would be embarrassed to have him as prime minister.

Tory strategists first tried to defend the ads, despite the wave of revulsion that swept over their own supporters, as well as opponents.

“I dissociate myself, my supporters and my campaign in Simcoe North from this type of advertising,'' said Public Security Minister Doug Lewis, the most senior minister to comment publicly.

Again thanks to Warren Kinsella for his insights.

Is this where the trumpets sound and Mr Trudeau stands up and says 'We are ALL Canadians'?!

Or Joe Volpe stands up and asks – 'Am I Canadian Enough?'

Or Mr Dryden stands up and wails “I want my Canada back?!'

Fade to CBC logo in the background..

When do you start?

You must have just received your beer and popcorn allowance from the populists……..it sounds like you forgot to buy the popcorn this month. Hope you bought Canadian beer though.

Well he certainly didn't sit on a perch writing for some useless right wing “think” tank about letting Quebec partition after separation or barring abortion and ideological rants about walls around Alberta among others. Sounds like Iggy might be more pan Canadian that Harpercrite in terms of their past writings.

Its also funny that Harpercrite has become as left as the NDP with his budget deficits. He might soon start wanting to support the poor in the land.

As the classic line goes: The Liberals have written more books than that Tories have read.

Better qualified. Fack.

Who's desperate? You're shouting. By the way, if you are so determined to be taken seriously do learn to spell. Your feeble attempts i.e. porogation are just that as evidenced in several posts.

re: Beer and Popcorn- Or Mr Dryden stands up and wails “I want my Canada back?!'

Mr Dryden is funny, (Dryden is a bit older than me)

Because back in my Canada

Coke used to be a soft drink, a joint was a hard place to hang out, we were The Dominion of Canada, The Union Jack proudly flew in our yard, gay marriage referred to a happy Bride and Groom and a women's write to choose meant she could stay home and take care of her family or pursue a career, that was her choice.

Liberal leadership has changed all this Mr Dryden

firstly, five words in caps in a long rsponse is not shouting, its highlighting a point.

secondly, I think you got the message and I never realized this was a spelling bee. I'm far from desperate and very hopeful we are getting closer to seeing the last of Harpercrite and his nasty ways salted with incredibly large deficits and stupid announcements of nothing. Flatulent's PC yesterday about CC safeguards was a joke as an example.

Ah yes nova dog Canada is an island of liberal sloth. No other country in the world has allowed any of the things you try and hang on Liberals. How about waking up and realizing you are in a 21st century democracy. The harpercites with its legion of angry tories would take us back to the 19th century and your last post is a case in point.

The US just came through 8 years of the dark ages and turfed its perpetrators big time. We don't want that in Canada.

Wow Forbes, good work boys. EVERYONE in Canada reads that.

The Ad comparing Ghandi to Iggy illustrates the dimensia suffered by many liberal apologists. Iggy is/was born with a life of entitlement. He never suffered for his views or acted with ANY courage since he has returned from abroad.

What position has the accidental tourist taken on matters of importance to Canada?

Raise Taxes, recognize Quebec, Promise to not attack Albertans over their provincial assets, Allow export of Asbestos, Sign the accord of the 3 stooges, hide for a few months while his goons finish off Dion and any threat to his leadership?

Iggy has been installed in a safe Liberal seat, failed to win support of the grassroots, is sponsored by the CBC and most left leaning pundits much like OBAMA.

Reality Check look as OBAMA twists and backpeddles on his promises now he is in charge. Keep apologizing and changing the channel the CPC have never attacked Americans, new immigrants that is the Liberal way.

The outreach by Kenny to counter the attacks and smear from the left is working.

The left scream (heartless, do you love Canada, mean spirited, hidden conspiracy…in every breath to the CPC)

The big difference the CPC don’t need to use TAX dollars, CBC, left leaning biased media to illustrate the incompetence of the Liberal Party. Canadians voted and only sent 77 back.

I guess it ain't all bad, I do like our flag and Dominion of Canada can still be legally used as an official term.

Harper's policy point:

“Build firewalls around Alberta”

Nice one.

The response to these ads has been interesting. Is it possible that the Rosedale gang has advised Iggy to take the road of saying nothing?

Why wouldn't he though as he has the air cover from the MSM through relelntless articles and polls and storlines about Mulroney, article after article about how the stimulus money has been held up (ie – Harper is doing nothing for the economy and the turn around has nothing to do with what he did) and how the Liberal support is surging.

Is it possible that the strategy of the Rosedale gang is hoping to get Ignatieff through the finish line and back to the fast track to Trudeau's Canada, answering as few questions along the way as possible?

PS – Terry – light, dark, imported, domestic, draft, in cans or bottles – any beer will do..

It is amusing to see outrage from individuals that support a party that shamelessly attacked our military in their own ads.We are all able to imagine the Lib. ads if Harper had ever in his past had talked about “We Americans”.
Terry 1 then procedes to list members of the Conservative party who were born out of this country. Thank you terry1 for exemplifying the true multicultural nature of the Consrvative party.This contradicts the message that the Libs have been trying to portray that the Cons. are a bunch of rednecks. The Libs should leave the attack ads for those in their partry that truly hate free choice in a great democracy. You know the types;Liberal values are Canadian values.

No, we apparently cannot spell… DESPERATE.

Sigh.

Isn that perfect David…people born outside or people who spend time outside the country are all Canadian and therefore should not be attacked for those attributes. I'm glad you now understand.

The imported beer is a no no with my tax money.

yep the same Forbes whose Chairman failed three times to be the right wing choice of Americans

But Ignatieff IS American,;he said so……Your argument is not with me it is with him….

Is Michael Ignatieff the next Gandhi? Not quite.
Michael Ignatieff is the next Gumby.

“The Liberals have written more books than *that* Tories have read.

Better qualified. *Fack.*”

Better spellers too?

“Well he certainly didn't sit on a perch writing for some useless right wing “think” tank about letting Quebec partition after separation or barring abortion and ideological rants about walls around Alberta among others.”

Any supporting documentation for those claims?
I'm curious: what exactly do you think Stephen Harper meant by “walls around Alberta”? Have you actually read the so-called “Firewall letter”?

Ditto – the question I asked Terry1. Have you actually read the so-called “Firewall letter”? What did Stephen Harper mean by it at that time?

Some of the pivotal events and major debates Michael Ignatieff missed while living abroad:
The NEP
The 1980 Quebec Referendum
The Patriation of the Constitution
The GST and Free Trade battles
The Meech Lake Accord
The Oka Crisis
The Charlottetown Accord
The 1995 Referendum

There were other important issues discussed in Canada from 1995 until 2005, when Mr. Ignatieff was parachuted back into Canada with the promise of a fast-track to 24 Sussex Drive.

I do not wish to demean Mr. Ignatieff's considerable and well-documented achievements, but experiencing some of those wrenching debates from abroad is not at all the same as living through them – and that is what the ads are telling voters.

They do NOT denigrate “new” Canadians such as myself. When my parents arrived here with me and my siblings in tow they were not expecting nor offered an immediate spot in the Liberal hierarchy, with the keys to Sussex dangling before their eyes.

BTW, wasn't there some initial resentment in the Liberal ranks when Mr. Ignatieff first appeared on the scene? Weren't there whispers that some MPs begrudged Mr. Ignatieff's push to leader-of-the-pack status, when they themselves had been working in the ranks for quite a number of years?

MJBEDNAR

NO……your missing the point!! We are not talking about a vacation to Florida, or a year abroad after High School, no were talking abouty 34 years!! THe entirety of his adult life.

There is a big difference.

I read most of Harper's trash about 4 years ago and all that stuff I quoted was in it, plus a lot more that will eventually be publicized.

Please do your own reading and research. I'm not your assistant.

MJBEDNAR….34 from 62 equals 28. Thats the number of years he spent in canada which is close to 50% of his life…….the tory math is shameful.

So you should go and talk to someone who is spending your tax money on imported beer, my good lady.

Terry remember, I'm a conservative – never spend a dime of anyone elses tax money, but pay more than my fair share so you and the rest of your gang can figure out some grand scheme and government program to spend it on to further the interests of your party.

Terry1

Great list…all those people were born outside of the country, however when they were given a chance to get established here, they did and they stayed. These Canadians saw opportunity here in Canada, Iggy didn’t.
They have had careers in Canada. They have CONTRIBUTED TO CANADA.

Iggy left Canada as fast as he could as he saw no opportunities that were fiting of a Count.

The only Canadian job good enough for Count Iggy is the top job. Everything else is beneeth him.

Kinsella’s list is a shot at immigrants. We are talking about people who born here, given every opportunity, but left. This country gave his family a chance, after Russia, obviously Canada was just a bailout for him. One would think that after a country like Canada took your family in with open arms you would feel some loyalty to it, not run away.

Melia, I can tell you that I left Canada for 14 years and made a ton of money which I brought back here along with some pretty damn good skill sets. Don't give me the garbage that being out of the country is a waste. He was at the most prestigious uni in the US and one the most in the world . Iggy has lived in Canada for 28 going on 29 years of his life.

As you will see in the enxt polls out by the end of next week the population will not be affected by that. they see him as NOT being Harper and that's a pretty good starting point.

surely you jest about some of those events being out of his range. He can read about every one of them in detail as they are now part of the country's history. How old was Harper in 1980….21? He was still trying to become an economist, something he has yet to accomplish.

The party is now very united under Iggy and very much supportive…but some in your party have now spoken out about the recent ads in negative terms including some very prominent tory writers.

My argument is that you angry tories simply want people to take things out of context

It sounds like you get the $100 family bonus Harper is bribing middle class Canadians with except its really a loan.

PS I am a male and proud of it.

'Caught the very earnest Martha Hall Findlay on Michael Coren last night making the erroneous criticism of the Truth Ads that they diss Canadians, especially politicians, who were not born in Canada. This argument is disingenuous and purposely muddies the water, making the CPC look like meanies or, worse, racist, no doubt what Warren Kinsella has in mind with his list .

This is not our problem with Michael Ignatieff. Our problem with him is that he WAS born in Canada, he spent much of his childhood and early adulthood here, and then decided to spend the next 34 years outside Canada, even referring to himself as American — that's on tape. He spent a good part of his adulthood avoiding Canada — and we shouldn't have some misgivings about a Canadian politician-come-lately who has shown very little interest in our country until a recent chance came up to win the Prime Ministerial sweepstakes and a pension-for-life ?

Worse, however, than his avoidance of Canada — because leaving one's homeland is, after all, a choice that many individuals make– is the COMBINATION of being an ex-patriot AND his expectation that on his return to Canada, after absolutely no political experience, never having been elected to any level of government, he is qualified a) to lead a major political party and b) to become Canada's Prime Minister.

What utter gall.

When this is pointed out to the Ignatieff Peanut Gallery, they huff and they puff. Oh! The indignation! What these ads are, actually, are Truth Ads, as pointed out over at AGWN by Soccermom, and I've come to the conclusion that truth to the Liberal$ is what water is to the Wicked Witch of the West:

“WE'RE MELTING! WE'RE MELTING!”

Poor (cry) babies.

In any world but the Liberal$' parallel universe, this idea would be positively ludicrous, bordering on narcissistic megalomania as in “WHAT IS THIS GUY THINKING?”

Whoops! How about this correction to the above post:

“He spent a good part of his adulthood avoiding Canada — and we shouldn't have some misgivings about a Canadian politician-come-lately who has shown very little interest in our country until a recent chance came up to win the Prime Ministerial sweepstakes and a pension-for-life ? In any world but the Liberal$' parallel universe, this idea would be positively ludicrous, bordering on narcissistic megalomania as in “WHAT IS THIS GUY THINKING?”

Hey, look at that, Ted can copy and paste from Kinsella's blog.

Good for you Ted.

Why not copy and paste the entire story Terry? Oh ya, right, the same reason Kinsella never. Because the next sentence she stated that she understands the ads ran because Liberals had already been running attack ads on YouTube, and the party had to respond.

Terry1, show me where I said those events were “out of his range.” Reading is one thing; experiencing those events is quite another. I can read a medical book about the latest developments in brain surgery, but it doesn't necessarily prepare me to perform one.
Would you subject yourself to a well-read non-surgeon?

You are indeed correct in saying those events “are now part of the country's history” but he wasn't here to experience them, whether you want to admit it or not. Long distance is not the same as being there … or here …

“… some in your party have now spoken out about the recent ads in negative terms including some very prominent tory writers.”
It shows the party is NOT being muzzled by the PM, as is often claimed by some bright lights – maybe even by you!

And I – being a conservative – am the angry one!?!

It was a civil question … which you rudely avoided answering.
“Anger is a brief lunacy.” Horace
But in your case, I fear it's a persistent chronic condition.

Or maybe you just don't know what was in the “Firewall letter” and want to hide the fact. I can understand your embarrassment.

Terry once again even 14 years is defferent than 34 years.

Terry your right, I love all the new policies of the Liberals. Oh wait its the same old policy of entiltlement!! Terry can you not see how the Liberals last non-leadership race has disenfranchised grass roots liberals.

Terry its obvious you are a back room liberal, you simply no too much about Iggy. Most canadians can’t cite Iggys age.

Who is Ted? Terry1 copied the post above from WK and was proud to do so.

What will you say if canadians elect his party to form a government? Will you try and impeach him?…..your comments are simply stupid, nonsensical and illogical. Canadians will decide whether he is canadian enough, not a bunch of angry tories who suddenly realize their guy has dug his own political grave. The fact your party cannot advertise its own accomplishments is telling enough……..I can see the ad now…fellow canadians here is how we spent your future into a huge deficit and how we tricked you into borrowing your own money!!!!

Again wehy not read the stuff and post your own take on it…mine is excatly what I wrote.

my response to your horace quote………she's not stupid but she's crazy….anonymous

anger is not one of my attributes; government for the people is one of them though…ideology is good in church and not in public life where 80% of the people don't want or need it.

Terry, shouldn’t you and Warren be out strong arming seniors, or belittleing the complaints of some very underpaid nannies.

The liberals and the media want to simplify this too much……nobody is saying you can’t leave the country and still be Canadian, however you can’t leave the country for 34 years and be the Prime Minister of Canada.

Gabby stated;
“Would you subject yourself to a well-read non-surgeon?”

Can I substitute that profession for a certain conservative ideologue.

The party is not muzzled!!! Now that's a new one becasue thye were told last week not to comment negatively on those ads when shown in caucus and one MP did. She may end up like poor old Bill Casey from NS.

Looks like Tery1 needs to work on his social life. Just another lonely night eh Terry. Your mom must be so proud to have you living in her basement and home every night.

If anyone needs a serious laugh……..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De5n_AFDbDs

He carries one PASSPORT… A CANADIAN ONE

“… government for the people is one of them …”
That is one of your attributes? I guess we have a different understanding of the word “attribute.”

As for reading “the stuff” – I have, but I wanted to know if you had. Evidently you haven't, since you simply repeated the same tired reference to “firewalls.”
At least, try to be original in your criticism … aren't you tired of writing the same stuff over and over … like … angry tories … angry tories … angry tories …
Yawn!

Another boring response.

Hi Stephen,

Any chance you could keep a closer control on the peanut-gallery? I can tell you from the perspective of a new comer that it doesn’t add much, and in fact discourages comments … which may be its intent … but then again, it’s your name on the banner at top.

Canadians will never elect an Ignoramous leading the Lieberals to form government.

I am really at a loss to understand this reasoning.

Many voters in this country did not live through any of these events, thus these events have little meaning to them – does this mean they are not qualified to choose the Prime Minister?

Where do we draw the line here – you can vote even though you have not experienced major events that apparently define Canada, but you can not be the PM if you were not here for those events? Doesn't that logic actually exclude the interests and priorities of a large number of voters?

I must admit that I thought Ignatieff's attempt to make these ads into an attack on new Canadians was just a diversion, but with arguments like this one I think he might have a point.

well since they let you post here anything is possible obviously.

You flaming fool, PM Harper is not involved with the ads, period.

Ignatieff apparently has little better to do than attempt to rebuke the well documented facts about himself and what he has said himself, in his own words, from his own mush and caught on video. He also has nothing better to do than to read gossip mags and swan off to Bermuda, wife in tow, while his MP's slave away in their ridings to help make him the big Kahuna.

He's got the true upper crust attitude, leave the dirty work, the grunt work to the underlings. Let's go off to Bermuda dahling, it's nice there this time of year. We could possibly find a few Puffins to hide some crap.

Is your full name Liz J. Hysterical…my god woman, you are out to lunch

Here is an interesting one. This morning a woman told on the radio she was in New York when Iggy's mug was posted big on Broadway. The comment from the Americans was. ” Thats the only way we can take over Canada”

lol, yeah, focus on spelling, 'cuz it doesn't change the point of their post at all.

heh….the CPC automatons try and be clever, come off as childish boors…then terry1 comes in and actually is clever and reverses it completely and with a timely reference…kudos.

well, it's apparent that they don't do science either…or reality (Liberal bias doncha ya know), or accountability (LOL remember that platform) or ah hell, if it aint in the bible they don't want it.

hey look Cons, there's Jesus riding a dino!

lol, yeah, focus on spelling, 'cuz it doesn't change the point of their post at all.

heh….the CPC automatons try and be clever, come off as childish boors…then terry1 comes in and actually is clever and reverses it completely and with a timely reference…kudos.

well, it's apparent that they don't do science either…or reality (Liberal bias doncha ya know), or accountability (LOL remember that platform) or ah hell, if it aint in the bible they don't want it.

hey look Cons, there's Jesus riding a dino!