Etobicoke Lakeshore Liberal riding prez throws support to Conservatives

[Minstrel Boy]

Geez, the bad blood the Liberals caused for themselves by parachuting their pro-war, patronizing Harvard star into that riding. They would have held it easily with a strong local candidate, but no.

In a last-minute blow to high-profile Liberal candidate Michael Ignatieff, the president of the party’s riding association in Etobicoke-Lakeshore swung his support today to Conservative rival John Capobianco in Monday’s federal election.


The controversial process by which Ignatieff was acclaimed the candidate over local hopefuls ruled ineligible by the party was a major factor in the decision, said Ron Chyczij, who had hoped to contest the nomination himself.


“I can no longer in good conscience support the Liberal candidate in this riding,” he said in a statement released this afternoon.


“After the nomination fiasco, I’ve purposely waited on the sidelines to see if Michael Ignatieff can in some way redeem himself as a credible Liberal candidate in this riding . . . this has not happened.”

The Toronto Star

[iverglas]

1. now you KNOW

this is the NDP's fault.

[daleo]

2. Some might see this as a case of sour grapes

"...Ron Chyczij, who had hoped to contest the nomination himself."

Parachuting star candidates is a bit unpalatable, but it's not the first time, nor are the Liberals the only party to do it. That being said, I am disappointed with Ignattieff. I agree with Salutin who said Ignatieff speaks power to truth rather than truth to power.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. hard to know what it means

At first I thought clearly it meant Ignatieff's lost. Then I thought, maybe Ignatieff's won, and the riding president doesn't see a future there. Probably, though, it's still close, and he's hoping to influence the outcome.

A riding prez in Quebec did the same thing a couple of days ago, followed by his candidate, who then took it back.

[jackbourassa]

4. If Martin loses and Ignatieff wins...

...will he run for the Liberal leadership?

[Telly Savalas]

5. Can someone clarify Layton's role in this?

Did he pay Chyczij to bail on Ignatieff? Of was he behind the Liberals parachuting in a candidate who supports Bush's invasion of Iraq?

[Monkeybumper]

6. Who is leading there ?

I have not seen a poll from that riding who is leading there ?

[Telly Savalas]

11. I don't know.

We'll find out tomorrow night, I guess.

[daleo]

7. I think he used the NDP mind control ray. n/t

[iverglas]

8. yes

and yes.

And he accused Ignatieff of corruption, too. And he made a deal with Harper that if the Conservatives win the riding, their MP will cross the floor to the NDP as soon as there's a big vote in the House. Because all the other NDPers will already have crossed the floor to give the Conservatives a majority and got positions in the Cabinet.

[V. Kid]

9. Hey, if I don't like torture...

..., which I don't, and the Conservatives do (probably), should I vote for Ignatieff to stop the Conservatives?

[Vote NDP]

10. Hmmm...

This is the one riding in my country where I'd vote Tory: It's better to keep the worst of the neo-con sleaze confined to one party if we want Canada to have a future.