Thanks For Taking This One For The Team

Dear Belinda,

I would like to thank you for not running in the Liberal leadership race. After losing the 2006 Federal Election to Stephen Harper of all people, our Party has become disillusioned and we are trying to redefine ourselves - what is a Liberal? What do we stand for? How are we different from the Tories? Where is our place on the Canadian political spectrum? Why is there so much internal discontent? In light of this, we need a leader who is ready to lead - someone who understands what it means to be a Liberal.

While I respect you for your contribution to the Country and to our Party, I am glad to see you announced your decision to not run. Having run for the Conservative leadership once before not too long ago, I think I speak for many of us when I say that you need to earn your place in our Party before you consider running.

Whoever becomes the next leader of the Party will likely go on to be a Prime Minister. A Prime Minister needs to be someone with hard-earned experience, someone who is articulate and someone with a strong vision.

Thank you for thinking before entering the race. You really took this one for the team and I'm glad. I would also like to thank you for raising the issue of how leaders are chosen in the Liberal Party. I agree with you compeletely that the technology exists to allow all members a leadership vote rather than just convention delegates. I hope that you will create change and I look forward to seeing who you will support in the race.

What I most enjoyed about your news conference is how you mentioned that the reason why you were bowing out was because of selection process and not because of your French. It's good to see you think the Canadian public is an intelligent crowd. It's just too bad that Brigitte Legault had to go to hell and back for defending you.

Sincerely,
Pedro the Politico