Dion in the grass

I wrote a couple posts ago about how I'm torn on if Stephane Dion, the new leader for the Federal Liberals is going to turn out. Of course a true pessimist would let me know that it's a pretty forgone conclusion that he's just going to initiate another Neo-Liberal stampede like Liberals always do when they promise to be left wing. Come into power; lie, lie, lie; share remarkable similarities to Conservatives while in power.

Anyways, Some preliminary signs point to the fact that he might not be totally lying.

1. The rhetoric and past. Dion's rhetoric was always more to the left than the others in the party leadership race. Historically his ministerial positions have been relegated to interprovincial sharing of power. His true colours towards economics, democracy, women's rights etc. have never been explored until he came out in favour in most of them verbally, though that's no indication of what he'll actually 'do'.

He never countered "Pepper-on-my-plate" Chretien, which is problematic. He also followed the line when it came to dealing with Martin. Mainly he seems to believe in the hierarchy of politics. He has said some pretty dicey stuff about Afghanistan etc.

2. But his actions seem to be backing up the bullshit. Dion has been a major pusher of the environment both in committees, government bills and in practical plans (like making oil subsidies tied to their green house gas reductions). He also has been vocal about an Afghani pull-out and voted in favour of squashing the terrorist-laws allowing us to lock people up til whenever. Rather than floundering in polls, and constantly repeating the bullshit he has beaten the Conservatives into acting like Liberals and is now jumping them to the gun on a number of issues.

3. I've found out recently that while on tour, he's been meeting with some good organizations. While in Sask. he met with a local group called Save My CWB. Shortly after he said this about the Canadian Wheat Board. A couple of days ago, he met with a number of women's groups including these people and they said that their meeting "was a very important meeting, as it gave us some indication of where women and women’s equality stand with the current Federal Liberal opposition.”