Dryden For Leader!

Ken Dryden is the best choice as leader of the LPC. I realise he wasn't/isn't expected to run, but this is a special time. Given we're looking to have the race asap, all the concerns about money, etc., disappear (it goes without saying that the membership must choose the leader. Otherwise we are worse than Harper). When you consider the positives & negatives of the current candidates with Dryden, would either of them be as good a frontman for the LPC? Ask yourself, who is the one Liberal who could never be depicted as a traitor? Who does every Canadian trust as a good, fair & smart man? Against whom would Con negativity be not just useless but boomerang? Who most contrasts with Harper, figuratively & literally accentuating what a little man he is? At a time when the public wants good principled public-interest minded men more than ever, who ticks all the boxes? I thought Dion would profit from this same advantage, that the Anglo public & media would remember & respect all he'd done, but I underestimated the ignorance of the former & the cupidity & knavery of the latter.

In 2006 I was tempted to support Dryden, but his French just wasn't good enough and he wasn't sufficiently experienced as a parliamentary performer. Now I feel that while his French is still not what it should be, ideally, he is the one Anglo whom Francos would forgive this failing, esp. now. He must be one of very few Anglos to have ever voted PQ (1976, because of corruption of Bourassa Gov't). But the wide affection & respect for him, from coast to coast to coast, based on some 38 years of famous public service, makes him unbeatable. Is the Coalition anti-Canadian when led by Dryden? Dryden IS Canadiana! Whatever path Liberals choose, Dryden would reinforce our brand as the Canada brand. Once upon a time, Cons feared Captain Canada Brian Tobin. But his French was almost non-existant and it all came to naught. But Dryden is like a big living breathing map of Canada.

Dryden has run a federal government ministry, a major one, something neither of the current candidates can say (Iggy has never run anything in his life. That's not being mean. It's the simple truth.) He has been a Liberal MP since 2004, longer than the others. With an elite education, having written important books, worked for the public interest in many different capacities, been President of an iconic major corporation (Leafs), and having stayed and worked in Canada for the public interest all his life, he has every qualification possible. He was also one of the rare Liberal MPs not to be scared into supporting the "Nation" resolution, despite his openness to QC being well-established (asymetrical federalism recognised in proposed Childcare program, much as I disagree with AF). Dupe of the Bloc? Hardly. And not anti-QC either. "Bien dans sa peau".

There is nothing to prevent Dryden from throwing his hat in the ring. Nominations haven't closed: Rae's the only to have offically filed his papers, as yet. Ask yourself: is there any negative ad anyone could do about Dryden? He is a Liberal. A LOYAL Liberal. He is our best chance. Follow my lead and email him to encourage him to join the race. As Rae says, the LPC is (or should be) an open party, not a closed club.