Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utcsrgv.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!outer From: outer@utcsrgv.UUCP (Richard Outerbridge) Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: The Liberal Leadership Convention Message-ID: <4560@utcsrgv.UUCP> Date: Sun, 17-Jun-84 14:58:01 EDT Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.4560 Posted: Sun Jun 17 14:58:01 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 17-Jun-84 15:18:55 EDT Organization: CSRG, University of Toronto Lines: 53 Overture Trudeau made a magnificent speech Thursday night, counselling the heart not be forgotten need the mind prevail. On Friday the candidates spoke, Johnston, Turner and Chretien last, Trudeau witholding applause until the last had finished speaking. Prelude Before voting starts, Alan Macheachern enters Turner's box. After voting ends, MacGuigan is deserted. Fugue First Ballot Results -------------------- Chretien: 1067 Johnston: 278 IN MacGuigan: 135 (to turner) Munro: 93 (to chretien) Roberts: 185 (to chretien) Turner: 1593 Whelan: 84 (to chretien) Needed: 1718 Johnston, by staying in, assures Turner's win - but is only following Turner's example at Trudeau's convention. Johnston says he is trying to force a third ballot; Chretien pleads to be allowed to go one-on-one against Turner. "... you know me, I love tough situations" says Jean. Turner wins on the second ballot, with 54.5% of the vote. Chretien gets 40%, and Johnston takes 5.5%. The defeated candidates are martialled onstage to meet Trudeau, who like Johnston is wearing a white suit. Martialled, that is, except for MacGuigan, who is hiding behind Turner hoping to make an entry on his coatails. Only when Turner stops for a press conference on the steps of the stage is Mark flushed out to face the music (and a broadly grinning Trudeau) by himself. Turner is asked if Chretien has a place in his cabinet: "Of course" he replies - his first commitment about cabinet positions. It's possible Trudeau stayed neutral to the end - there were two spoiled ballots on the first vote, and one on the second. After Trudeau had congratulated Turner, he apparently asked for an introduction to the Turner family: they were trotted up, presented to Pierre, and then introduced to the crowd while John made laughing noises in his throat at the podium. A nice parting touch. Chretien's last words were "Good luck bon chance!" Turner's victory speech was good, if only because I heard him come alive for a few moments near the end of it. To me Turner can sound as though he's dictating a memorandum to file when he talks. He only looked at the CBC's camera once, to promise we would feel secure and confident. I was hoping for trusting and hopeful, but Turner's a realist. -- Richard Outerbridge416 978 2742 Payload Deliveries: N 41 39'36", W 79 23'42", Elev. 106.68m.