Thursday, December 20, 2007

Loser!!

First, I am glad that he is now a Liberal problem.

Second, I hope he will get screwed by the Grits.

Third, he is a LOSER (with a big "L" on his forehead.)


---------------------------------

PUBLICATION: The Leader-Post (Regina)
DATE: 2007.12.20
SECTION: News
PAGE: A12
DATELINE: SASKATOON

Orchard's nomination could get scuttled

SASKATOON -- A political tug-of-war is brewing within the Liberal party over David Orchard's campaign for the nomination in the sprawling northern riding of Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.

Orchard was a prominent Saskatchewan backer of Stephane Dion during his successful race for Liberal Leader in 2006.
But there are now media reports that Dion, at the request of Liberal House Leader and Wascana MP Ralph Goodale, will override the nomination race and instead appoint NDP MLA Joan Beatty as the candidate.

The news that the nomination process might be circumvented has been met with mixed emotions from the camp of Orchard, who first rose to prominence in the late 1980s as an anti-free trade activist and later ran twice for the leadership of the defunct federal Progressive Conservative party.

"He thinks it's not something that should be happening, but he's been encouraged to continue campaigning by the response and support he's getting," said Marjaleena Repo, an organizer for Orchard, on Wednesday.

Orchard's candidacy was announced at an October brunch for Dion by Goodale, the Liberal's sole MP in Saskatchewan after the August resignation of Gary Merasty created the vacancy in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.

"The understanding we have is this is a real diversion and it falls into Mr. Goodale's lap because he seems to be pushing for someone else," said Repo.

"This goes counter to everything that he was operating from. He had a clear understanding that he was wanted and he was encouraged by Mr. Dion to fight hard. It's unnerving."

When asked in an interview if he was trying to block Orchard, Goodale said he does not comment on nominating processes.

"There are at least three, if not five people, who have expressed interest in that riding. Some very interesting people with some very good credentials. It's a northern riding with a big aboriginal population. There are both aboriginal and non-aboriginal candidates that are interested. The process is ongoing," said the former federal finance minister, noting that the party's "green light" committee is supervising to ensure everyone is treated fairly.

Goodale said the party is by-and-large best served by a full nomination process in a riding but there are rare times when a leader needs the opportunity to appoint a candidate.

He said "we'll see," when asked if this was one of those times.

A Dion representative in Ottawa said only that the federal leader spoke publicly of his appreciation for Orchard on Tuesday and expressed a desire for him to be a candidate at some point.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home