I have a lot or respect for Ed, but he was much more suited for opposition than governing. I suspect he’d have pulled a Bob Rae. try to do too much, and flame out in the ensuing backlash.
On the list of “greatest never-was” I’d likely put Robert Stanfield high on the list. Sort of a Joe Clark like character, very down to earth and related to people on a personal level. He was conservative in the “think twice and act cautiously” vein, not the “burn everything down” types we’re stuck with today. His subdued style and the lingering aftertaste of the Diefenbaker days combined with Trudeaumania left him as an also-ran.
I don’t think Bob Rae fizzled out, ever since he left the NDP he’s been a high ranking member of the Federal Liberals and even served as interim leader
I was referring only to Rae’s one term government. The backlash resulted in the election of the Mike Harris PCs with the resultant looting, corruption and devastating tax and service cuts.
In the last ~20 years Rae’s carved out a pretty solid track record.
I have a lot or respect for Ed, but he was much more suited for opposition than governing. I suspect he’d have pulled a Bob Rae. try to do too much, and flame out in the ensuing backlash.
On the list of “greatest never-was” I’d likely put Robert Stanfield high on the list. Sort of a Joe Clark like character, very down to earth and related to people on a personal level. He was conservative in the “think twice and act cautiously” vein, not the “burn everything down” types we’re stuck with today. His subdued style and the lingering aftertaste of the Diefenbaker days combined with Trudeaumania left him as an also-ran.
I don’t think Bob Rae fizzled out, ever since he left the NDP he’s been a high ranking member of the Federal Liberals and even served as interim leader
I was referring only to Rae’s one term government. The backlash resulted in the election of the Mike Harris PCs with the resultant looting, corruption and devastating tax and service cuts.
In the last ~20 years Rae’s carved out a pretty solid track record.