01.12.2013 10:48 AM

My tribute to OLP leadership teams, and my so long to OLP, too

As all of the OLP delegate-selection stuff begins today, I figured I would be uncharitably nice. Just this once.

The Eric Hoskins folks have run a creative, fun campaign, with “dark horse” and whatnot. They have made him a bigger name than he was going into this. In a campaign as short as this one, that’s no small achievement. Congrats to Bruce et al.

The Harinder Takhar people have also done a great job – at debates and elsewhere – transforming Harinder into a player. At the start, I ran into a member of the frontrunner’s campaign, and he was nasty and dismissive about Harinder. They’re not that way anymore. Harinder’s a significant factor.

Team Kennedy, too, have taken a guy who has been on the federal scene for quite a few years, and put him at the front of the pack in a very crowded race. In 2006, Kennedy was the guy I wanted to win the LPC race, because of his position on Québeçois as a “nation.” I would’ve liked to see more of that guy this time. But his team have served him very, very well.

Charles Sousa is equally very, very lucky to have had people like my friends Bob Richardson and Fahim Kaderdina and James Bowie helping him out. The opposition’s shorthand put down of Sousa is now utterly and completely gone. He is seen as the fiscal smart guy, and he can thank his troops for no small part of that.

Glen Murray is out, but he should’ve stayed in the race to give his supporters a chance to run as delegates. That said, his organizers – Mraz, Espie, Duffy et al. – did, truly, an amazing job making Murray a big name and a bigger presence. But I feel he should’ve stayed in the race.

Team Wynne were considered to be the most-organized from the start – and they are. They have been a well-disciplined machine. They are a formidable opponent.

There, I’ve stopped being nice.

Anyone who reads this web site at all knows where I stand. But I figured I would tip my hat to my adversaries in what has been a pretty good race.

Will I be involved in the OLP, going forward? Beyond the convention, no. No way. I am out, full stop.

It’s time for others to step up. I have other plans, and they don’t include the OLP war room or campaign, no matter who wins.

There’s a lot of smart folks, as noted above, to run the coming campaign. They’ll do just fine without old farts like me around.

Good luck to them.

13 Comments

  1. Bluehart007 says:

    You’ve been a good liberal, Warren and for all the right reasons-supporting a party which governs from the middle, maintaing a balance between interests and values, and being pragmatically progressive. But you’ve been an even better Canadian-fighting with passion and conviction for what you believe in and sacrificing beyond the call of duty.

    I hope you have not taken that walk in the snow, but are taking a well earned respite from this very very tough game. Rest up guy, and at a time of your chosing mount up and ride again.

  2. Mulletaur says:

    As you’ve finished being nice, I will pick up where you left off – just this once, mind. The staff, temps and volunteers at the Ontario Liberal Party have been working incredibly hard, often late into the night, within impossibly short time lines and under very difficult conditions to make this thing happen. Each and every one of them deserves mention for their commitment to our Party and the success of this event. They take a lot of grief and get very little in the way of thanks. They make me so very proud to be an Ontario Liberal. To them I say : thank you.

  3. Reuben says:

    Your political mission in life should be greater than just hoofing for the OLP or the LPC. You should be working to unite the Left into a strong and coherent political force that will counter the reformacons. Yours is a national crusade to save Canada. Go for it.

  4. I wish you all the success at the LPC War Room. As a President of the T @ D Liberal Association I was counting on your support to revive the Association. It is needed now more than ever to make sure we maintain our modest success in the GTA. I remember, not long ago. We had 101 out of 102 seats Red in Ontario. Somehow, the both levels of the Party were speaking with one voice when it came to Environmental and Energy. We saw eye to eye on helping the Third World and things seemed to be enjoyable.
    I am looking forward to working with you in the future to do whatever should be done to bring back the Liberal Party to where it was not so long ago.
    The Best in whatever you do, I personally had a good impression for the Warren I met briefly. Sad to see you go, but see soon again.
    Michael

    • Cath says:

      “Will I be involved in the OLP, going forward? Beyond the convention, no. No way. I am out, full stop.

      It’s time for others to step up. I have other plans, and they don’t include the OLP war room or campaign, no matter who wins.”

      Wow, why do you bother WK? Ever get the impression that some don’t actually read to the bottom of what you’ve written?

  5. Sorry to see you read you packing it in. I was hoping we can join together to bring back T and D Liberal Association. It kept the GTA red for many years. At one time and not long ago, we had 101 out of 102 Federal Ontario Seats. We can do it again, but the heart of the Party on both levels ( GTA ) got to be organized and united. Many challenges facing us. Difficult ones I may say. I meant to look you up next week, between the Delegate Selection and the Leadership Convention. Hope to see you regardless. I believe you are one excellent Brain we should try our best to keep working for Liberalism. Not to many do, unfortunately.

  6. Chris says:

    Taking SFH on the road Hard Core Logo style?

  7. Bloody Bounder says:

    May I kindly and respectfully ask why you will not be in the OLP war room
    during the next election Warren?. The OLP and whoever is its next leader
    arguably need you more now than ever, with a new leader, a new Ontario
    Premier, a minority government, ect. While it is true that nobody is
    indispensable, Warren Kinsella is Canada’s best political strategist,
    without a doubt.

  8. Bloody Bounder says:

    Warren, you’re young, you’re so young…You know Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) , he didn’t make master tinker till he was
    490 years old!. 😉

    Seriously though, you are very young. 52 years old is not old at all to be a political strategist or to play in a band.
    Look at the Rolling Stones and James Carville. I would seriously vote for you if and when you ever decide to run
    for elected office.

  9. reformatory says:

    You’re either stepping back cause you don’t want to associate yourself with a losing campaign…. since whomever wins Pupatella included… the chances of a 4th term are slim.

    or.. you’re setting up for a federal run in the beaches to ride Justin’s coat tales and solidify a pension after a few terms?

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