Dionwatch

There's a vigorous debate going on at Jason Cherniak's on the subject: Stéphane Dion for Liberal leader? (Or at least there was, before it somehow morphed into a debate on abortion.) Jason's take: he's all right, but he's no Paul Martin.

I'm guessing that's a point in his favour, as far as a BCer in Toronto is concerned (see his election unendorsement), who asks: Why Not Stephané Dion? (Answer: Because there's no one by that name in the running, or in the phonebook for that matter.) (UPDATE: Ah, darn, he fixed the spelling.)

But let's get serious: Ottawa Liberal has started the inevitable Draft Dion site. For once, I don't think the not-yet-declared candidate is somehow secretly behind it. Which sort of says it all. MORE: BCTOer has the complete Dion letters: "With discussion of Stephane Dion as a possible Liberal leadership candidate seeming to explode across the blogosphere Wednesday..." That didn't take long. BULLETIN: Manley is not running. What, he was waiting to see if McKenna would run?

IN OTHER LIBERAL LEADERSHIP NEWS: The Dan Report can exclusively confirm that ... wait for it ... "popular Ontario Education Minister and philanthropist Gerard Kennedy has been urged to run for the Liberal leadership." Well, who hasn't?

Elsewhere, Maritime Liberal endorses Frank McKenna, but thinks Scott Brison will be chosen as interim leader. And Andy Scott for Quebec lieutenant! And what's this? Is Akaash Maharaj entering the lists? The party's former policy chief and erstwhile candidate for party president (before being kidnapped and tossed down a well by the Martinite machine) -- who is so impossibly high-minded I often want to ask him, "you do know this is the Liberal party, right?" -- has spammed the entire membership sent an open letter "to the 35,000 Liberals on my subscription list," urging them to "band together to reclaim the party of Laurier, Pearson and Trudeau." Excerpt:

Monday evening was certainly a trying pass in the Liberal Party's history, and we will have to walk an arduous road before we emerge from this dark night of the soul. Accordingly, I am writing to urge your assistance in initiating the process of renewal, to restore our Party as a vessel for liberal-democratic ideals worthy of our heritage and deserving of the confidence of Canadians... Our Party's long association with power has made us a magnet for Liberals of convenience, who have too often supplanted Liberals of conscience. However, Canadians are not the fools that some political operatives take us for. We recognise those who seek power as an end in itself rather than as a means to advance the public good, and we choose accordingly. Fortunately, fair-weather Liberals will be the first to flee the shadow of adversity. Those of us who remain must not repeat past errors of believing that we can effect change merely by exchanging Party leaders. If there is no fundamental reform and grassroots rejuvenation of the Liberal Party itself, then no matter how talented or well intentioned the next leader may be --

Anyway, blah blah blah, and then:

In the coming weeks, we will all have a chance to begin this process in our local communities and in informal networks of Liberals across Canada. I am eager to perform my duty towards the cause of Liberalism, and I urge you to share the challenge during our Party's moment of destiny. I hope we will have a chance to work together, and I remain at your disposal if I can be of any assistance to you.

Is that a, was that a ... self-draft? CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A PROGRAM: General handicapping of the race here and here and here and here.