Can Preston Manning save the Liberals?

[CHIMO]

The response to my post from yesterday was very heartening. Two things came across loud and clear:

1. Liberals still give a damn about the Liberal Party.

2. There is tremendous pent-up frustration about how the “old white guys” have managed the party and how difficult it has been for people to get involved and help out in a meaningful way while this old guard remains in control of the party.

An interesting idea was suggested in multiple emails that echoes something I have long been thinking and have mentioned in this space previously: In order to get its act together, the Liberal Party needs outside organizations pushing and prodding it. The shorthand for this idea right now in the Canadian context is, as was suggested to me by four completely unrelated individuals, “the Liberal Party needs its own Manning Centre.” (What, you thought from the headline that I was going to argue that Preston Manning should run for Liberal leader?) Tom Axworthy suggests something similar – though I would argue very different – in his op-ed in today’s Star when he suggests the Liberal Party needs a think-tank.

The Mannning Centre is, as I understand it, completely arms length from the Conservative Party of Canada. That obviously doesn’t mean that people aren’t both active in the party and the centre but Manning is not controlled by the party itself. It is instead part of the “conservative movement.” I love the Manning Centre’s mission statement: “To identify, develop, and support political entrepreneurs who can advance our common vision of a free and democratic Canada.” Identify, develop and support political entrepreneurs – that’s awesome. I have no idea how good – or not – Manning is at achieving these objectives, that’s really besides the point.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/silver-powers/can-preston-manning-save-the-liberals/article2010030/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/silver-powers/the-liberal-party-what-went-wrong-and-where-to-next/article2008011/
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/985129--chastened-liberals-have-to-aim-lower