[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Neil]

I encourage those Languishites who are in Alberta to donate money to the Progressive Conservative party.  They need the money at this point.

[Barrister]

I encourage those Languishites who are in Alberta to donate money to the Progressive Conservative party.  They need the money at this point.

I was just going to bump this thread when I saw this - meowtf?  Wildrose gets my money.

[Barrister]

Kevin O'Leary mulls running for Federal Conservative leadership.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-kevin-o-leary-1.3401967

Umm, interesting.  I don't think he'd be the guy I support though.  Not so much because of anything "controversial" he's said - he's on tv, that's his schtick, I get it.  But rather that his company that he built (and sold out to Mattel) was a house of cards that was almost immediately written off after the purchase.

Interesting comment in the article about Jason Kenney coming to somehow "unite the right" in Alberta and become Premier.  I've seen that rumor before.  It would be very interesting to watch...

[Grey Fox]

Too old.

Gen X or bust.

[Barrister]

Too old.

Gen X or bust.

Have you seen how old the leading contenders are in the US? 

[Grey Fox]

Too old.

Gen X or bust.

Have you seen how old the leading contenders are in the US?

Yes & it makes shudders. 60 is already too old, a bunch of 70+ers?! Stop asking to get a VP promoted & then start WWIII.

[Jacob]

Kevin O'Leary mulls running for Federal Conservative leadership.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-kevin-o-leary-1.3401967

Umm, interesting.  I don't think he'd be the guy I support though.  Not so much because of anything "controversial" he's said - he's on tv, that's his schtick, I get it.  But rather that his company that he built (and sold out to Mattel) was a house of cards that was almost immediately written off after the purchase.

Interesting comment in the article about Jason Kenney coming to somehow "unite the right" in Alberta and become Premier.  I've seen that rumor before.  It would be very interesting to watch...

He's the guy who offered to "invest $1M in Alberta if Notley resigns" right? It might get a few soundbites, but it's pretty low quality for political discourse.

He sounds like a Trump-lite to me. If that's what the Conservatives think will get them places, I guess that's their prerogative but a being a TV personality and offering obnoxious rhetoric doesn't seem like the best bet to me.

Does he have any actual political experience?

[Martinus]

"Investing $1M" is a pretty low bar.

[Josephus]

He invests $1million for what? A 40 per cent stake in the province? 

[Barrister]

Kevin O'Leary mulls running for Federal Conservative leadership.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-kevin-o-leary-1.3401967

Umm, interesting.  I don't think he'd be the guy I support though.  Not so much because of anything "controversial" he's said - he's on tv, that's his schtick, I get it.  But rather that his company that he built (and sold out to Mattel) was a house of cards that was almost immediately written off after the purchase.

Interesting comment in the article about Jason Kenney coming to somehow "unite the right" in Alberta and become Premier.  I've seen that rumor before.  It would be very interesting to watch...

He's the guy who offered to "invest $1M in Alberta if Notley resigns" right? It might get a few soundbites, but it's pretty low quality for political discourse.

He sounds like a Trump-lite to me. If that's what the Conservatives think will get them places, I guess that's their prerogative but a being a TV personality and offering obnoxious rhetoric doesn't seem like the best bet to me.

Does he have any actual political experience?

Did you read the article?  He explicitly makes the Trump connection himself.

No, no political experience.

The real question is whether or not he knows French.

[Jacob]

Did you read the article?  He explicitly makes the Trump connection himself.

No, no political experience.

The real question is whether or not he knows French.

Nope I did not read the article. That's why I asked you

[crazy canuck]

Kevin O'Leary mulls running for Federal Conservative leadership.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-kevin-o-leary-1.3401967

Umm, interesting.  I don't think he'd be the guy I support though.  Not so much because of anything "controversial" he's said - he's on tv, that's his schtick, I get it.  But rather that his company that he built (and sold out to Mattel) was a house of cards that was almost immediately written off after the purchase.

Interesting comment in the article about Jason Kenney coming to somehow "unite the right" in Alberta and become Premier.  I've seen that rumor before.  It would be very interesting to watch...

Not sure why you have put quotes around controversial.  He has said some pretty stupid things.  So I guess you meant to suggest that characterizing his comments as "controversial" is too kind?

[Malthus]

Kevin O'Leary mulls running for Federal Conservative leadership.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-kevin-o-leary-1.3401967

Umm, interesting.  I don't think he'd be the guy I support though.  Not so much because of anything "controversial" he's said - he's on tv, that's his schtick, I get it.  But rather that his company that he built (and sold out to Mattel) was a house of cards that was almost immediately written off after the purchase.

Interesting comment in the article about Jason Kenney coming to somehow "unite the right" in Alberta and become Premier.  I've seen that rumor before.  It would be very interesting to watch...

Not sure why you have put quotes around controversial.  He has said some pretty stupid things.  So I guess you meant to suggest that characterizing his comments as "controversial" is too kind?

He is saying that spouting dumb stuff is that fellow's "schtick" - so presumably an act not to be taken seriously.

To my mind, the trend of conservative politicians spouting dumb stuff as a "schtick" ought to be sternly discouraged by rejecting any politicians who indulge in it. Down that path lies Mr. Trump and his ilk.

[crazy canuck]

Kevin O'Leary mulls running for Federal Conservative leadership.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-kevin-o-leary-1.3401967

Umm, interesting.  I don't think he'd be the guy I support though.  Not so much because of anything "controversial" he's said - he's on tv, that's his schtick, I get it.  But rather that his company that he built (and sold out to Mattel) was a house of cards that was almost immediately written off after the purchase.

Interesting comment in the article about Jason Kenney coming to somehow "unite the right" in Alberta and become Premier.  I've seen that rumor before.  It would be very interesting to watch...

Not sure why you have put quotes around controversial.  He has said some pretty stupid things.  So I guess you meant to suggest that characterizing his comments as "controversial" is too kind?

He is saying that spouting dumb stuff is that fellow's "schtick" - so presumably an act not to be taken seriously.

To my mind, the trend of conservative politicians spouting dumb stuff as a "schtick" ought to be sternly discouraged by rejecting any politicians who indulge in it. Down that path lies Mr. Trump and his ilk.

If that is what he meant, then I disagree.  I dont think it is an act.  Unless his  schtick has become his personality entirely.  Whether an act or not, I do agree that it ought to be rejected as strongly as possible.

[Barrister]

Yes, I think O'Leary understands what his role is (though like many entertainers he's really just amplifying aspects of his personality that already exist).  He knows that being "controversial" is what gets him attention.

That being said, while there is a Trump comparison that can be made he really is quite different from Trump.  I've never heard him be accused of being racist or sexist or anything.  His schtick is really just a Gordan Gekko "Greed is Good" defence of capitalism.  He can be kind of crass, but that's about it.

I don't think I'd vote for him as leader (as mentioned, he was actually a kind of shitty CEO), but I certainly wouldn't walk out of the party if he was elected.