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Joe Volpe took your questions on the Liberal leadership race

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 5:33 PM EDT 25/09/06

Liberal leadership candidate took questions. ...Read the full article

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  1. A reader from new orleans, United States writes: Joe who?
  2. R Harris from Canada writes: See his answer to how he will sell the Liberal party in the west to learn all you need to know about Liberal policy. They buy support. Every item in his answer dealt with money being sent to the west. Newsflash Joe - we can not be bought. Give us good competent clean government who respects the wishes of the west and does not play one region off against another- then you have a chance. Oh and his memory on the fund raising is a bit off. He 'immediately' said he had done nothing wrong. Then after he saw the issue would not go away, he returned the money. I guess in Liberal terms that is immediate. Have fun in the race for last place Joe!
  3. Edward Brooks from Milton, ON, Canada writes: How is it that someone who was actually in Cabinet at the time, get something so wrong? Is this political revisionism at it's finest when Mr. Volpe states: 'Mr. Harper rushed to extend the time frame and turn our mandate in to one of 'war fighters.' Is Mr Volpe ignorant to the fact that it was his own leader Paul Martin who changed the mandate, or is he just a liar, manipulating facts? Is this the type of person we want to lead us?
  4. Liz Jackson from Canada writes: Poor Joe, he did himself in early on in the leadership 'race'. Since then he has kept a low profile in the Media hoping his folly with the piggy-bank crowd will be forgotten. Afraid not, nice try, but showing bad judgement off the mark is a killer.
  5. D B R from Kitchener, Canada writes: Joe, is a corrput as all the old Liberals are. Why would I support someone who only thinks in terms of buy people.. and of course there is the whole fundraising issue, they use kids... your not worth a single vote Joe.
  6. Anil Goel from Toronto, writes: The only reason why people like Volpe and Fry remain in the 'race' is that the entire 'race' is so close, that throwing in your support to the leading candidate in the last day of the 'race' may get you an eventual Cabinet post. As little as I think of the Liberal 'leaders', at least Carolyn Bennett had the dignity to drop out early. Those that stay in, with their 2% support, simply have no shame.
  7. Patrick Knudsen from Canada writes: He didn't just bald face lie to us did he? No way. I can't believe it!!! No matter how many times you say it Joe....it ain't gonna be true. It was the liberals, with you in cabinet... that sent our troops to fight in Kandahar. Bill Graham came on television and told everyone that there are going to be a lot of casualities with this mission. It was the liberals who sent us there to fight...without any parliament debate. It was not the present government. The Conservatives asked Parliament to extend the mission and many Liberals voted for it as well. It was the Liberals that put us in the current mission we are on today. What do you take us for! Many voters are non-partisan and will switch their vote to those that deserve it. You are a LIAR! You don't deserve any votes!
  8. J Smith from Canada writes: Thanks for your coherent and well explained answers to the questions. They are certainly indicative of your many years of experience in government. Your answer regarding the issue of troops in Afghanistan very good. Good luck with your campaign.
  9. scott thomas from Canada writes: I can't believe that the money from children questions was sloughed so easily: the real question is why did the drug firm Apotex funnel over a hundred thousand dollars into Volpe's campaign, some of it through children (and also teens) of its employees?
  10. sam draper from Canada writes: The facts about Joe Volpe are that: - He spent 18 years elected service as a dedicated member of Opposition, Government and Cabinet - He signed up 35,000 new members to the Liberal Party - more than anyone else - AND in spite of the partisan hackery he has been a target of, manages to out-fundraise all if not most of his competitors - His policy positions are principled and un-nuanced to play to the widest thinnest audience - He has been been the focus of a long and tired smear campaign that has no basis in the facts His positions and answers were well thought out and the fact that he continuously speaks to the national media in spite of their willingness to be less than objective with him is admirable. For everything he is: - He did not cross the floor - He did not run or contribute to the NDP - He did not join the party last year and expects to run the country This man is a serious contender for leader. He has the ability, the resume and the membership support. After delegate selection, a lot of people will be re-examining their rhetoric.
  11. Tom Fry from Calgary, Canada writes: I was the one who asked about the west (see article) and I have to agree with #2 - Joe Volpe just doesn't get it. He offers pork - which I guess is how Liberals pick up votes where he comes from. It doesn't work in the west, particularly in Alberta, since we pay in way more money than we get back from Ottawa. He's offering to bribe us with our own money. News flash, Grits: If we want a bridge, or more rail capacity to Prince Rupert, we can buy it ourself. It'll get built by someone who's competent, not someone who's a major contributor to the Liberal party, and it'll get done right. On the other hand, we don't have the option of buying a parole board that's actually accountable to the public when it releases someone it shouldn't, and that (among other items) is what Mr. Volpe refuses to offer us.
  12. D B R from Kitchener, Canada writes: Can Liberal ever be honest about Afghanistan. The mission has not changed, and its not Bush's mission. It the mission put in place by the Martin government of which Joe was a part and his current leader Bill Graham set in place. Why would any Canadian believe the Liberals ahve chnaged when they can't even be honest about this. And this is one of the few good choices the Martin Government actually made.
  13. Will Partridge from Delhi, Ontario, Canada writes: If he spends money on developing the west, you accuse him of trying to 'buy' you. If he doesn't spend money on the west, you'd accuse him of ignoring you. Nice shell game you Conservatives run there. It's typical of of your intellectual and moral bankruptcy. It doesn't fool anyone, either.
  14. A W from Canada writes: If Joe Volpe wins the Liberal leadership, we're all doomed.
  15. Sophie Ignatieff from North York, Hungary writes: I think JOE VOLPE WILL MAKE A GREAT LIBERAL LEADER AND PRIMEMINISTER. He spoke honestly and truthfully to the best if his abilities. The liberal party needs someone with experience to lead them in the next election. All the above ignorant comments mean nothing. I have noticed sitting back at home that Mr. Joe Volpe always ends up being treated unfairly. It makes me wonder if its because he was in the Martin cabinet? or maybe, ' because he is one of the only immigrants left? Lets face it folks Joe Volpe stands for whats good about this country. He gives hope to everyone who has always felt left out. He gives hope to immigrants that one day they to can achieve great accomplishments such as Mr. Volpe.
  16. Sophie Ignatieff from North York, Hungary writes: Joe Volpe is the Candidate of 'HOPE'. Lets face it, other candidates talk about the Liberal party being the vehicle of hope. He is the candidate of Hope! We all know that the media likes to portray the purposed front-runner. However, he appears to be the real deal. One can not ever question his loyalty and pride to the Liberal Party or his love for Canada.
  17. Scot Affleck from Prince George, Canada writes: Hey, Joe. I kinda would like to donate a few bucks for your campaign, but my pre-teens growed up a long time ago and left home. Me? I aint got no dough. You Liberals taxed it all away. Quadrupling my old age pension deductions, for example. Booo!! Bummer, eh?
  18. Vasili Yeremenko from Canada writes: I will predict this and am so sure it is true I am taking bets. The person who wins this leadership race will not be prime minister but the next leader after that will be pm for at least two terms. If a liberal wants to be PM lay low righ now. Don't say I didn't warn you. Mr. Harper will win the next election and if he has to Mulroneyize Canada Ie Get in bed with seperatists) he has shown he will do what he has to hold onto power. A the BLOC or liberals may force a quick election and the tories will win. I'm certain.
  19. Ian in Ottawa from Canadistan, Canada writes: Good point #6, and that is one of the many reasons why used car salesmen are more trusted then politicans nowadays.
  20. Andrew S. from Toronto, Canada writes: Someone in the media should ask Joe how a candidate with so little support has managed to raise so much money. Who is footing the bill for Joe's loser campaign and why?
  21. A W from Canada writes: I bet Judy Sgro's got a few choice words for Joe Volpe. And #15, it has nothing to do with Mr. Volpe being an immigrant. Mr. Volpe only cares about Mr. Volpe. By the way, I find your name rather ironic--isn't there another particular candidate you'd rather be shilling for?
  22. R Harris from Canada writes: Sorry Will #13 - but I have never criticized the government for not spending money in the west. I have and will continue to criticize them on policy. So to accuse me of moral and intellectual bankrupcty is just more of the same Ontario anger directed to the west. I think we can do without the personal attacks - especially from the only province that should share our concerns about spending and equalization.
  23. Dan Green from Toronto, Canada writes: Volpe must stay in the race. He is a credit to his party. A corrupt Liberal. Bob Rae is a NDP in disguise. That wont work.

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