Canadian History: The Liberal Party

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Historical Investigation Jennifer Xie 1/7/12 CHC2D7 Word Count: 1921 PART A On the night of Canada’s 2011 Federal Election, the approval rating of the Liberal Party was at a grim 18 percent. The more disturbing statistic, however was Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff’s approval rating, which, on the cusp of the election, was exactly the same as that of Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. However, May had not stirred out of her riding while Ignatieff had lost his seat, and with it, the election. Throughout most of Canadian history, the struggle for political dominance has been between the Liberals and Conservatives, with the Liberals labelled as “Canada’s natural governing party”. This election, however, has not only overseen…show more content…
Chrétien offered to take the heat from Martin by staying a couple months longer before stepping down. Martin refused, instead, launching a public inquiry and personally blamed Chrétien for the affair (Newman, 245). The internal power struggle of the Liberal Party between Chrétien and Martin spanned a decade or more (Newman, 25). Stephen Harper launched a brutal attack ad campaign in the summer of 2009 on Ignatieff’s image (Wells, 1) Ignatieff had great difficulty responding to the attack ads (Wells, 1). Ignatieff had spent almost half his life abroad, and most of it in America, teaching at Harvard (Newman 20). Ignatieff endorsed American progressive imperialism, which envisioned America invading and rebuilding countries that committed human rights abuses (Smith). During the debates, Harper maintained eye contact with the camera at all times (Newman, 475). Part C: Evaluation of…show more content…
Newman, an acclaimed journalist, author, newspaper and magazine editor. The book’s purpose is to chronicle the slow crumbling of the Liberal Party. Newman analyzes several underlying causes for the decline of the Liberal party, as well as the immediate factors. The book was written for people who are more informed about politics, was written for an audience that is knowledgeable of the terms in which Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin were in power. In addition, this source was written to chronicle how the Liberal Party became the natural governing party of Canada. The book is valuable in it analyzes several underlying causes for the decline of the Liberal party, as well as the immediate factors. Newman points out several fundamental flaws in the Liberal Party, such as its regurgitated and old branding. Newman also outlines a couple flaws in the leader of the Liberal Party during the election of 2011, Michael Ignatieff. He describes how the Liberals failed to defend Ignatieff against the flurry of ads driven by Stephen Harper that painted Ignatieff as an outsider, a mere visitor. It is further valuable because the author, Newman, writes from first hand experience in dealing and talking with Ignatieff. The author comes from an extensive background in politics as a journalist and editor. The book is, however, limited in that there is blatant exaggeration prevalent throughout the book
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