Let's just apply the American template to any Canadian election

[bcholmes]

"[Stephane Dion] is certainly the Liberal leader who's taken his party furthest to the left, at least since [former prime minister] Pierre Trudeau," Mr. Harper said in Inuvik.

"I think this is not a time to go back to Trudeau-style economic policies," said the Conservative Leader, who invoked Mr. Trudeau's name three times in unfavourable comparisons with Mr. Dion.

— The Globe and Mail

Huh. While Trudeau was pretty unpopular the day he stopped being Liberal leader, he's got tons of respect, today, at least outside of the prairies. I mean, wasn't he the second-place winner in that Greatest Canadian thing a few years ago. He's respected much more than, say, the conservative Mulroney.

Comments

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Although, now that I think of it, the one thing that Trudeau did that I disagreed with was that he broke up Alpha Flight. I think socialized superheroics only make sense.

I'm humming "The Maple Leaf Dog" while I type

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

Well, there was the wage and price controls thing but people misunderstand that. PET said they wouldn't work during the election and then he demonstrated the truth of his hypothesis.

Wasn't he the one behind the introduction of French classes in Anglo-Canada and the subsequent exposure of millions of innocent students to a wave of incredibly hot French teachers? At least in W'loo County, it was like they were recruiting from Lothlorien.

Actually, I don't mind the second one.

One could argue his reaction to the FLQ kidnappings was excessive and contributed to the PQ's victory in 1976 and that while it might have been in the end unavoidable, the end run around Quebec when the consitution was patriated had some unfortunate consequences. Also, the alienation of the west has had some effects I'd rather have avoided.

There's other stuff but it's more on the level of things that I know can't be resolved on LJ.

Re: I'm humming "The Maple Leaf Dog" while I type

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

I'd prod PET about deficit spending but it's not like the late PC Party under the Chin That Walks was better.

[professor-booty.livejournal.com]

Harper's political base is in Western Canada, where Trudeau made many enemies with NEP. His comments are code for 'The Liberals will come and tax your oil sands wealth'.

[shara.livejournal.com]

I mean, wasn't he the second-place winner in that Greatest Canadian thing a few years ago.

Wasn't it David Suzuki?

In an case, invoking Trudeau just makes me want to vote for Dion more.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Looks like we're both wrong. Wikipedia says:

1. Tommy Douglas
2. Terry Fox
3. Pierre Trudeau
4. Sir Frederick Banting
5. David Suzuki

[shara.livejournal.com]

I always suspected my memory was made up 90% of wishful thinking... ;)

[sabotabby]

Huh. I thought everyone outside of Québec thought that Trudeau shat gold or something. I mean, I didn't care for him much, but he was supposed to be One of the Great Men What Made Canada Great. I don't think Harper is going to get very far bashing him.

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

Trying to tar the Liberals with Trudeau is like the GOP trying to tar the Democrats with Carter (who was possibly more conservative than the two Republicans who preceded him). It may work with centrists and people who don't educate themselves, but the Democrats surely aren't going to think twice if you're comparing Obama to Carter. Most have gotten over the loss in 1980 (those that can remember it) and respect Carter today.

And American liberals love Trudeau, too. We can only hope that one day we may have a president who will be like Trudeau was as Canadian PM. Maybe we have a higher opinion of Pierre than he deserves because we didn't live under his governments, but he is fairly well idealized on this side of the border.