Quote:

“The next Liberal leader has a mess to clean up, for sure. And if I were a member of the party, I’d be supporting Sandra Pupatello from Windsor.

Here’s why:
 
• She’s focused on the economy: Pupatello was a Liberal MPP for 16 years, and was in several Cabinet posts during that time, including economic development. She left politics to become director of business development and global markets for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. She is an expert on job creation from both sides, and that’s what Ontario needs.
 
• She’ll reclaim the political middle ground for the party. We’re living in divisive times, with a frighteningly high public debt and an economy that won’t rally. Times like this tend to polarize people, and draw them to the hard edge of the left and right wings of political thinking. But we need a strong voice for the middle ground. Pupatello is seen as coming from the right wing of the party, perhaps because of her corporate experience. She can draw the Liberals back to that unoccupied centrist territory.
 
• She’s smart, tough and together. I was education reporter for this paper, off and on, for 18 years and have seen a few education ministers pass through. Not one of them impressed like Pupatello. Her grasp of the issues was formidable, her passion for the topic was clear and her willingness to hold local boards accountable for continued student improvement was refreshing.
 
• Most of all, she is the person least associated with McGuinty. The Premier has been a lightning rod for the anger of Ontarians who are fed up with his policies. Anyone who was a member of his cabinet will be tainted by association, no matter how wonderful an individual he or she might be.

But Pupatello has been an outsider, and that’s all to her benefit. “He and I are very different,” she said recently about McGuinty. “We are different personalities, we look at things differently.”

If the Liberals elect her as leader, Pupatello will provide a fresh approach and a chance to claim the political middle ground. She’s the blood transfusion they desperately need.

Comments (13)

Nice. And who’s the smiling young man in the front row on the left?

Comments (9)

I’m not sure why aggregators, etc. are linking to them anymore, because you hit that infernal paywall now.

I’m sure they’ve been told this many times, but let me echo what others have doubtlessly said:

Yes, we all know the New York Times has a paywall. You’re not the New York Times.

Comments (22)

For those who say he can’t speak without a TelePrompter – or that he is programmed, or that he lacks passion and emotion – take a good look at this.

My God, I am (still) so happy this guy won.

Comments (7)

While some candidates were doing robocalls last night – and others readied themselves to do robocalls – Sandra Pupatello held a huge rally in Windsor.  Folks who were there – and I would’ve been, too, had I not been giving a Fight The Right speech in Toronto – said there were more than 400 people in attendance.

Also there (in a fun pic) was this guy on the left, who said he supports Sandra, quote unquote.  Anyone know what he is – and what the significance of his support may mean?

Comments (10)

The mere mention of this guy’s name is enough to make most people want to upchuck.  So what does his well-paid legal team do – in the midst of an OPP investigation, no less?

They put him out there to depict himself as a “victim.” With a straight face.

A bunch of monkeys would do a better job.

Comments (0)

The Wynne campaign just did a robocall to a bunch of new Ontario Liberals. I wonder how they got their numbers?

Also, robocalls: interesting strategy, there.

Comments (25)

For the Ontario Liberal leadership, I’m supporting Sandra Pupatello. She announced her candidacy just minutes ago here in Toronto, and she’s heading next to her home in Windsor to declare her intentions before a big hometown crowd.

In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be writing more about why I’m supporting her. But for now, here are ten reasons why I think Sandra is simply the best person for the Ontario Liberal leadership.

1. She is the only candidate who can win the coming election. Period.

2. As long as anyone can remember, we’ve never won with a Toronto leader. Sandra’s from Windsor, and proudly so.

3. She’s multilingual and she’s whip-smart. She’s fun and she’s one of the most likeable politicians I’ve ever met. She’s the candidate the PCs and the NDP fear the most.

4. Coming from Windsor, she knows how to defeat the OLP’s strongest adversary – the NDP. But she enjoys beating Cons, too. And she’s never lost an election.

5. She has held senior portfolios like economic development, and trade. She’s got the right kind of experience for these tough economic times.

6. Jobs, jobs, jobs: her number one focus is the security provided by a stable, well-paying job. That is the centre of her economic policy.  It’s what Ontario needs.  She is what Ontario needs.

7. She treats every taxpayer dollar as a sacred trust. She’s frugal, and she’s careful with every dollar. That’s how she’ll govern, too.

8. With Sandra, what you see is what you get. That’s how she is. Taxpayers rightly demand that we be straight with them. That’s what they’ll always get with her.

9. Sandra left government to work as a senior, and successful, business executive. She’s therefore been far from any of the the controversies that have beset her competitors for the top job.

10. She doesn’t buy into the Left vs. Right, labour vs. management, urban vs. rural stuff that others are so preoccupied with. She can win everywhere in Ontario, with the support of people from all walks of life, and every point of view. And she will.

Sandra Pupatello provides the kind of change we need, and not just in the Ontario Liberal Party.

She’s a winner.  And, if given the privilege of leadership, she’ll win the next election. Click here to support her, too!

Comments (53)

Exhilarated, exhausted, exhaling. What a night.

I am so happy, I can’t tell you how happy. So, over to you smart commenters: why did Obama win? Why did Romney lose?

Open thread. Comment away!

(Here, by the way, is the back of my car.  Tells the tale. Happy, BTW, that equal marriage is the law in Maine!)

Comments (82)

Woooooooooooot!

Comments (19)