Wine and Cheese with the Candidates

Jules and I went to the Liberal Wine and Cheese Bash at the Paradis vineyard Thursday. Good crowd (300), six candidates, plenty of reporters and a few MPs and former MPs. Just a few observations: Ken Dryden has improved his speaking skills, but his French still leaves a lot to be desired. And he’s even taller in person than on the tube. Scott Brison was actually quite likeable and feisty. Good speech. His French seems to have improved quite a bit.

Stéphane Dion, true to form, was mostly substance: agriculture, economy, climate change and issues of interest to the region (St. Armand, Bedford, etc…). Dion seems to be getting more and more comfortable with a crowd. Looked and sounded quite good.

Bob Rae actually looked much older in person than on TV. His speech was a little flat, though he did mention Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which is always music to my ears.

Michael Ignatieff was also there, overdressed. He seemed quite popular with the reporters. Watched the news when I got home, and it turns out he spent most of the evening clarifying his recent declarations on whether he would run if not chosen leader, and on that “Civil War” thing. (We’ll have more on that later). His speech was OK.

Hedy Fry was also in attendance. All I remember is that she mentioned she was the only candidate from the West.

Where was Kennedy?

All in all, a good time was had by all. From where I was standing, Dion and Brison got the biggest pops.

For more, see The Montreal Gazette
or La Voix de l’Est


Wag on,
Dudley.