Dryden enters politics

see link ...

[cbc.ca]

[Q]"Ken has told us he wants to accept Paul's invitation to run in Art's place, but there are details to sort out before we can announce that on Friday for the big Saturday papers," a Liberal source told the Post.[/Q]

Um.

The article says "he wants to accept [Prime Minister Paul Martin]'s invitation to run". Could someone explain to this ignorant American how this works? You can only run for office (this office?) if the head of the party invites you to? For that matter, not sure what a "riding" is either.

A riding is an electoral district. There are currently about 300 ridings at the federal level in Canada, each represented by a Member of Parliament (akin to a Member of Congress). The party electing the greatest number of Members of Parliament is then expected to form the government. The constitution of the Liberal Party of Canada, the current governing party, provides for its leader, currently Paul Martin, to appoint candidates to stand for the office of Member of Parliament. Normally, however, an internal party election is held to determine the candidate for any particular party in each riding (much like an American primary).

Hope this helps your understanding of our political system. Know also that if Ken Dryden is appointed he would almost certainly be elected. The Liberal Party currently holds all but a few of the ridings in Ontario and will likely do just as well in the election that is expected to be called shortly (we do not have fixed election dates either as it is the Prime Minister who selects the date).

[q]The Liberal Party currently holds all but a few of the ridings in Ontario and will likely do just as well in the election that is expected to be called shortly (we do not have fixed election dates either as it is the Prime Minister who selects the date).
[/q]

In the US, it isn't just the election dates that are fixed.

[q]Dryden, 66, posted a 258-57-74 record with a 2.24 goals-against average and 74 shutouts in 397 NHL games, all with Montreal.[/q]

Just thinking about politics will age you...

Without checking, I'm assuming that's supposed to be 56.

Ken Dryden announced today that he is leaving the Maple Leafs and running for parliament.

[www.tsn.ca]

Cornell's own Bill Bradley: Athlete, scholar, author, businessman, now politics.

Letter from Dryden to Leafs fans:
[www.mapleleafs.com]

[q]And I was more unhappy because, no matter how good and loyal the Buffalo, New Jersey, Carolina or Philadelphia fans are, they didn't deserve a victory as much as you do.[/q]

I disagree

Speaking for Philly, I disagree, too.

JH

I think we can all agree that he is right about Carolina

[Q]Tub(a) Wrote:

I think we can all agree that he is right about Carolina
[/q]


I don't know. I'm not sure Carolina even deserves a team.

JH

As I was reading it, it dawned on me that much of what he wrote applies to the Cornell team and its fans as well.