(Scroll down for update) Where’s Iggy? seems to have replaced Where's Waldo? as one of the more popular past times in the Liberal blogsphere over the past week or two. Rumours abound, but I can report Michael Ignatieff should now be back in the country.
Those watching the candidate’s online calendar will know he was scheduled to be in Comox, British Columbia today for a get together with local Liberals in Vancouver Island North. That’s my old stomping grounds, so I was interested to hear how the event went, and hoped some of the soap opera rumours swirling around might be put to rest.
Turns out Ignatieff wasn’t there, but I think with good reason. David Hurford, his Western co-chair, explained to the 30 Liberals (good Fed Lib crowd for the Comox Valley) that had gathered to meet Ignatieff that he and his wife Zsusannah have been in Budapest visiting her very ill mother and father. Their original flight back to Canada was cancelled, leaving them scrambling to book another. The next flight they could get didn’t get them into Toronto until Sunday night, so they should be in the country by now, but alas, couldn’t make the Comox gathering.
A make-up visit has been scheduled for August 20th, just before the Liberal caucus meeting in Vancouver, and the people that had turned out were very understanding of the situation and appreciative that Hurford had come to keep the date.
I think the communications around Ignatieff’s time away could have been handled better by his campaign but I firmly believe, as I think those who had hoped to meet him Sunday did too, that family must always trump politics. He has been where he has needed to be, and I won’t fault him for that. In fact, it’s a bit refreshing for a politician to say I’m taking care of family right now, no press releases, no conference calls, family comes first.
I hope that those who dislike Ignatieff will confine their criticisms to the policy arena. Going after a man for putting family first won’t get you very far in my books, and I don’t think I’m the only one that feels that way.
UPDATE: I'm told Michael has phoned the hosts to apologize for his absence from the event yesterday. So, we learn that a) He is now somewhere with phone access, and b) He's a classy guy.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Iggy’s on his way
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24 comments:
I don’t fault him for putting his family obligations first, but I think that he can do more than one thing at a time and being incommunicado for the better part of a month is pretty inexcusable.
To be taking care of family from across the ocean would be extremely difficult....I had very sick parents (at the same time) and quite frankly the doctor didn't know which one I'd lose first - they died a year apart. This was at home and trying to visit both in different hospitals until we got them into one hospital and work obligations made me almost go over the edge. I was going on 3 to 4 hours sleep until I was so exhausted I came down really ill myself. I'm not looking for sympathy here, just trying to point out how difficult it would be in 2 different countries. He's not PM, no one is really paying attention to the Liberal race right so to take advantage of a slow time isn't out of line.
It's so easy to be judge and jury when you don't know all the details of the situation.
It's funny. I like Dryden. But each time I hear from supporters like Shoshana, I have to wonder about his judgement. Is his team sending her out to be this negative? Have they specifically told her: say only negative things and only about Ignatieff; whatever you do, don't talk policy and don't ever ever saying anything positive about Ken because this race has to be about who can be the nastiest and most constantly on the attack.
Thanks for the post Jeff. With supporters like you, Dion will go far and the Liberals will as well.
Ted
Cerberus
Oh yeah Jeff, people working on his campaign were told his flight back was last tues. Five days is an awful long time for a missed flight, don't you think.
Cerberus you know full well that I don't work for Drydens campaign so stop spreading garbage as a means to dflect from legitimate criticism about the team that you do organize and work for and the candidate who is missing without explaination. Like I've said before keep criticising me because you have no legitimate defence of your campaigns lies and candidates absence.
I don't know why your guy is MiA. you know I don't work for Dryden. One more lie from your organization is not surprising.
Jeff,
Just off topic here. This saturday do you still need a ride out to the Progressive Bloggers BBQ?
If you do, send me your contact information, phone number, address,.. so we can co-ordinate a pickup time, yadda yadda yadda.
Email me at zorpheous@scubaq.ca
Zorph
Oh, S.B., you are so cute when you get all huffy and indignant about being caught out again. Priceless.
Still waiting for you to say anything, anything at all, just a single short post, about something positive. Preferably about why you support Dryden but really, I'd settle for a single positive post about anything.
Hey Cerberus
Michael's team just cancelled his radio talk show appearance this morning with 40 minutes notice. They told the host they did not know where he was!!!!!
MI's campaign does not know where he is. And this man want's to lead the country, which is exactly what the radio host said.
This excuse is garbage. One of his prominent orgaizers was vacationing in the U.S. this weekend knowing full well Iggy wasn't making it anywhere.
Now its his mother and father in law. Story gets better all the time.
This man will beat the conservatives when there is only one international flight out of Bhudapest a day. There is no phone service in all of Hungary and his handlers stop lieing to Liberals.
There is no reason for him to have cancelled engagements and been incomunicado for a month, unless he has no regard for Liberals or he wasn't up to it.
No one's mother and father in law necessitate this disregard. Couldn't he have hired a nurse and let his wife care for her parents after staying a few days? Of course he could have. This whole story is a line of crap. I'm sure they are old, but no phone service, no hospital care, nor nurses, 24/7 attendance needed for both of them, doubtful to say the least.
Missed plane. garbage when a key campaign organizer is in the states knowing you aren't coming back.
Mi's website now lists no upcoming events. NONE! His goose is cooked.
I agree with Jeff. Michael Ignatieff is NOT Prime Minister, or Leader of the Opposition. He does not owe us his presence, or have to tell us where he is all the time, so trying to make political points off his absence is a bit silly. Also, it could backfire severely.
Really Lobster, well he owed these people his presence.
Agenda - Michael Ignatieff
British Columbia - Vancouver, Abbotsford, Comox Valley, Victoria, Chilliwack
July 30 - August 1, 2006
10:45pm Depart Courtney for receptionNote: MI to drop-in Comox First Nation Band office on the way to reception to see past candidate Dan Smith and local chiefs.
Noon Vancouver Island North Liberal Riding Association ReceptionPrivate residence - ComoxContact: Dove Hendre, Dan SmithMI to participate in riding association reception hosted by local members and MI supporters Gerry Slobodian and Marcelle Hebert. 25-40 expected including First Nations leaders. MEDIA AVAILABILITY
6:00pm Private meeting with Victoria Indo-Canadian communityPrivate Beach Drive ResidenceContact: Surjhit SodhiMI to meet with 6-10 community leaders. DH to confirm and arrange. SD invited to attend.
7:00pm Private reception - Victoria Liberals and potential donorsDavid and Barbara Adams' residenceContact: Catherine, Jason Walker, David Adams MI to have private dinner with 15-20 guests/contributers. SD invited to attend.
Monday, July 31 - Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Chilliwack
8:25am Radio InterviewCFAX 1070 studioContact: JoeDH to confirm availability with Joe Easingwood. MEDIA AVAILABILITY
8:50am Depart studio for Vancouver
10:15am Meeting with Chinese Community LeadersChinatown location TBCContact: Bennie Yung, Albert FokDH to confirm location and attendees with Bennie. SO invited to attend. Vancouver Chinatown Merchants invited to participate. MI to be briefed on harm reduction. SO and SD invited to attend. Channel M interview may be scheduled on-site. MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Noon Private lunch with David McLean North Shore Pemberton Street location TBCContact: David McLeanDH to confirm location. 10-15 guests/contributers expected. SD invited.
1:30pm Depart North Shore for Abbotsford
2:30pm Abbotsford Temple Visit with Sukh DhaliwalAbbotsford location TBCContact: BilalBC to confirm details and coordinate with Sukh. MI to participate in brief tour and Vision TV interview with Sukh. Briefing required on local issues.
3:10pm Depart Abbotsford for Chilliwack
5:30pm First Nations - Chilliwack Riding Association ReceptionBest Western Rainbow Country Inn, 43971 Industrial Way, Vedder RoomContact: Bilal Cheema, Marcel JuneauMI to participate in discussion with members of Sto:lo Tribal Council and Chilliwack riding association. 15-20 expected. BC to coordinate riding outreach and prepare briefing on Aboriginal fishery.MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Tuesday, August 1 - Kooteneys
8:35am Depart Vancouver for Cranbrook
Noon Cranbrook Business ReceptionPrestige Inn, 2090 Van Horne Street SouthContact: Ross Preist, Brian KaufmanDH to confirm attendees with Ross. 25-40 expected. MI to give brief remarks. DH to prepare announcement. MEDIA AVAILABILITY
1:45pm Community Roundtable - Early Childhood DevelopmentPrestige Inn, 2090 Van Horne Street SouthContact: Betty AitchesonDH to confirm invitations with riding president. 6-10 guests expected on the issue of early childhood development and health promotion. DH to prepare briefing.
Man would I be pissed off if I had volunteered to cater an event for 45 people for the guest to be a no show with no notice. Pissed off!
Man would I be pissed off if I had volunteered to cater an event for 45 people for the guest to be a no show with no notice. Pissed off!
Well, you might have been SB, but I know Gerry, Marcelle and Dove, the people that actually did volunteer to hold and cater the event, and they were a tad more understanding, to say the least.
Jeff: Stop it! Stop it! For the love of God stop it! Your understanding, fairness, light humour, balanced commentary, positive posts and comments, civility to opposing opinions... it's all... it's all just too hurtful and too much of an attack on s.b. You're going to kill her, man!
And the rest of the candidates need her to be a Dryden supporter.
Yep and Cerberus just keeps criticising me. Why would anyone be understanding when they are obviously being lied to. If you don't know where someone is and they don'thave phone or internet communications, how do you shedule events for them and say they will be in Toronto 20 minutes later. They are obviously in communication with him. He obviously has a phone and he is probably in Toronto and has been for several days.
We'll see. I personally don't like being lied to.
A tad more understanding. yes, we are because all of us have had cancelled flight stories, all of us have had family issues that have taken us out of the picture for periods of time. Surprisingly we are a global community whith family members living all over this planet.
I feel embarrassed being of the same sex as Shoshana with her comment "No one's mother and father in law necessitate this disregard. Couldn't he have hired a nurse and let his wife care for her parents after staying a few days?"
She who pontificates broadly about the role of women in politics, damned hard if in the same light she sees it as a womens sole responsiblity to nurture and care for elderly parents.
Reading all the back biting makes me wonder why on earth would any man/woman even want to be bothered with politics. Then I answer myself with "because we care".Which reminds me to that all the Candidates care.
But lying, as opposed to being lied to... now that's a completely different story.
I'm not going to say anything... I hope that health issues are improving and offer my prayers.
There is something serious here or else it would have been easily 'splained away by the candidate in person, on the phone or somewhere. Because i was partially to blame on what 'appeared to be' a bad rumour over at the excellent dynamitepaper site, I'll say no more.
Let's hope everythings fine and just being run crappily.
S.B, you've never liked Iggy and you think that you have a chance to jump all over him here and its getting rather sad. Are you up 5 posts this week about Iggy, or is it 6? I forget.
If you want to criticize Ignatieff, do on the policy front instead of comparing him to Count Chocula or feigning outrage because he didn't show up for a radio show.
Lots of bloggers criticize Iggy, just like lots of other's criticize other candidates, but they do it in a constructive manner. You should try that some time.
sb should return to posting racist taunts. She is much more endearing that way.
It sounds to me like you liberals have got yourself a group of goofs once again. I cannot imagine any one of those bozo's ever being PM. My family was a big supporter of the libs forever (longer than I like to admit) and not one of them would give one penny to any of that bunch. Sorry guys. You need money to have an election. You need an election to be PM Bon Chance
Your old stomping grounds, eh? Mine too. (circa 70's 'n 80's)
Annie, also in Toronto
"...I'm told Michael has phoned the hosts to apologize for his absence from the event yesterday. So, we learn that a) He is now somewhere with phone access, and b) He's a classy guy."
Yeah, such a classy guy, too bad his campaign team, i.e. David Hurford aren't.
Totally agree, the team has acted in Soprano fashion, obviously this must have something to do with pent up hostility left over from Rock Machine days.
Hurf never does anything unless it makes him look good, let's try and remember who these people are.
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