Bob Rae dropping out now.

[HeresyLives]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081209/Liberals_leader_081209/20081209?hub=TopStories

[legin]

1. "...virtually ensuring that Ignatieff will become Liberal leader. "

NNNooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....

(Sorry to interject, although I'm british I've really got it in for that arsehole Ignatieff for an article he wrote just after 911)

[Caradoc]

2. Iggy Top...

...at least now we'll be able to stem some of the blood loss. I have great admiration for Stephane Dion, and for Bob Rae, and like the decent men they are they have both done the decent thing when called upon. Harper now has a new foe, one who may be no more exciting than he is, but at least one who won't be such an easy target. I just got an email from my riding president and everyone's relieved. Ignatieff will likely keep the coalition option as a doomsday device in case Harper gets his bully on again.

[HeresyLives]

3. I can understand the relief.

At last it's finally settled, and we can all move on.

Iggy is also more ruthless than either Dion or Rae, and at the moment that's apparently what we need, to deal with Harper.

[Mother Jones]

6. Well said re Dion and Rae

And how gracious of both to do the right thing, when asked by the party. I like them both alot better than Iggy (and vividly recall celebrating when he was shut out of the leadership convention last year), but I realize this is probably the right thing to do right now.

I think this will offer an option for moderates and red tories now. My parents are both life-long progressive conservatives and they hate Harper. It may swing enough votes to get Iggy a minority. He certainly has a fantastic opportunity in Quebec.

[daleo]

4. Now that Obama is the U.S. president (rather than Bush)

Iggy's foreign policy musings of the past seem less relevant. Plus, the dangers of a Harper government to national unity have become more clear. The net effect is positive for Iggy.

[HeresyLives]

5. Seems to have caught the wave

at just the right time.

[Canuckistanian]

7. I still have problems with Rae being a Liberal

After all, he WAS the Premier of Ontario as NDP Leader.

And I was a gung-ho supporter when he was Premier.

I tend to lose respect for leaders who change parties, not matter who they change to.

Charest in Québec is another example. I never dreamed he'd become a Liberal. He was PC before that.

AND, it's been rumored that he'd be the new Conservative Leader if Harper quits.

Please.