Georges Laraque bi-election candidacy - a blip or a game changer?

[art-in-the-making]

http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/07/09/georges-laraque-gets-ready-for-the-next-fight-as-a-green-party-ca...

A couple of days ago, Georges Laraque announced his candidacy under the Green Party banner in the upcoming bi-election (as yet unscheduled) in Bourassa, the former riding of Liberal MP Denis Coderre who is going into municiple potlics.

Laraque is honest, articulate in both English and French, very charismatic and a champion of tons of causes that people can connect with. For a politician, his open frankness may verge on naivety - but this refreshing quality may be an asset, expecially in a bi-election scenario.

So, the big guy could be a flop and lose, even though he's running in a riding that is 15% Haitian (Georges' parents are from Haiti and he has been a fundraising dynamo for Haiti since the earthquake), or, the opposite - that is, he could win and who knows, possibly by 2015 convert Quebec's "orange wave" into a "green wave" spoiliing Justin's coronation and resulting in who knows... perhaps even a Conservative minority with popular vote as low as in the 20%s.

Or, what I would consider the more likely scenario, he wins and becomes an eastern island of Green as Eliza is in the west.

But the possibilities and permutations are intriguing. The Lac Megantic disaster without question provides a potential entree for the Green Party in Quebec. I for one think he will have a strong chance and deserves to get in, at least in this bi-election. BTW, among his many positions, he is in favour of legalization and regulation of pot and prostitution, is a serious animal rights activist and is a confirmed Christian.

[pierrelebel]

For more on Georges: http://www.georgeslaraque.com/ 

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

In today's political atmosphere, anything can happen Pierre. In London Ont there is fellow (I think his name is George, I forget the last name) and he's running for the Green. He's getting a lot of good feedback.

The Green has problems however and they need to address them. To begin with the name.............Green. Most people think they are just environmental and the Green label and they have to shake that and keep it at the same time. People need to know their stance on other issues that are part of people's daily lives where their vote counts.

Green also needs more media attention and a strategist. In the sad world we live in, it's all about media and the exposure.

Maybe Trudeau should have gone Green. Now that...............would be interesting!!

[art-in-the-making]

"anything can happen"

That's for sure!

I have noticed that unofficial/official Con PR branch Sun News have been in the forefront giving Georges media ops the last couple of days.

Apparently the reasoning being a) that the Cons sill never stand a chance in this riding and b) losing the riding will be a loss for the Liberals.

This strategy could easily backfire on the Cons.

Georges still has a home in Edmonton and is a well known figure across the country, with even more Twitter followers (for what that's worth) than Justin Trudeau.

Also worth noting, Laraque's notoriety is largely among the male (sports fan) demographic, traditionally the Cons' semi-private breeding ground...

So, what if Georges could help leverage the Greens into a viable alternative for those (in the west and rural Ontario) who are fed up with the Harperocracy but against "socialism" (lol) and unable to hold their nose and vote Liberal? Intersting times ahead...

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

So, what if Georges could help leverage the Greens into a viable alternative for those (in the west and rural Ontario)

Rural Ont he would never make a break in. Farmers at one time were very Liberal, but farming changed and now they are very Conservative. Also being Green doesn't help in the farm community. You would think it would because farming is being part of nature, but farmers want to control nature and in that process use chemicals and pesticides etc etc etc that would probably be challanged by the Green Party. Last but not least, and I really hate to say it, there are a lot of bigotted people in rural areas. He would have to sell himself and his personality a lot more than some others.

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

Actually, I want to edit "he would never make a break in"......to........."it would be very difficult.

[art-in-the-making]

I would definitely agree on most if not all of those observations, Prior - not to mention Laraque's vegetarianism would be a negative in most farming areas. I haven't seen specifically, but I imagine (not sure) he would be 1000% against the Calgary Stampede, and so forth. This would weigh heavily against his "pros" (Christian, macho image, down to earth straight talker, entrepreneur, humanitarian) in these areas...

But, remembering he is not running in a rural area, I presume if he did get in in the bi-election (make no mistake he'll be working against bigotry in Montreal too), then his role would be more towards raising the profile of the Green Party, which he would certainly be able to do. Open the door a bit wider for the local candidates, give them a chance to hit the right note to appeal to the people in their areas.

Long shot to imagine that they might build up to a critical mass.

[kentworld]

Just in case you didn't know, the riding that Elizabeth May won has also a Green member in the provincial legislature now. Andrew Weaver won over long-time Liberal MLA, Ida Chong. Probably more an anti-Liberal vote than a pro-Green vote and Andrew Weaver has been big in the global warming issue. If the Greens widen their policies to seriously include business/economic issues, then they may get a foot in the door, but groups with "agendas" are sometimes too focused on one area to have mass appeal. But good luck to Georges...

[puckstopshere]

This is one of those cases where the people in Laraque's riding should look at the man and forget the party.  What does it matter if he is in the Green Party.  Based on his involvement in his community, he will represent his riding in the best possible way.  If I were in his riding, I think I would vote for him.  It is a rare opportunity to vote for a person who may transcend party politics. 

I agree that the name "Green Party" is definitely a hindrance to the party being taken seriously as a force in Canadian politics.  Although "green" should be something we all strive for, it can be costly and may (at times) have a negative effect on conomic development in this country.  GREEN cannot be the be-all and end-all.  There needs to be a balance approach - one that considers the environment and how we can achieve sensible goals without bankrupting the country.