On the Liberal race to replace Paul Martin Junior

There is no race--because there are not any candidates! Manley, McKenna, Tobin and Rock took themselves out of contention. McKenna and Rock are happy to stay as Canada's ambassadors to the USA and the UN until Prime Minister Harper replaces them. Manley and Tobin have projects on the go in the private sector and are too busy for politics. Who does that leave? I prefer much a race among former Ontario Premier Bob Rae, former Toronto Maple Leaf executive Ken Dryden, former Harvard Professor Michael Ignatieff and former University of Montreal Professor Stephane Dion than a race among Liberal political operatives Bevilacqua, Cauchon, Coderre and Volpe, than a race between two Conservatives who switched to the Liberal Party, Brison and Stronach. Don't be surprised if Karen Redman and Dr. Carolyn Bennett join the race. Problem: Rae, Dryden and Ignatieff are all from Toronto. Even so, Dion, Dryden, Ignatieff and Rae are all thoughtful people; three of whom have published academically or commercially. The Liberal Party need to rejuvenate and will be served well if all four people run. Problem for Brison: He burned his bridge to Bay Street when he switched parties. Problem for Stronach: Up until she switched, she hanged out with the Toronto conservatives Bill Davis and Mike Harris and not the Liberal establishment. Her last campaign manager, John Laschinger, has taken on the job to manage Toronto Mayor David Miller's reelection. So, she has to pay top dollars to get Warren Kinsella or any other Liberal campaign workers. Seriously, all the remaining Liberals in and out of the House of Commons caucus have to wait for Parliament to start meeting in April. Not until then will they get any free national media exposure. Yes, the Liberals will hold annual meetings in the many electoral districts but even Liberal partisans are dejected and fatigued. I hope Liberal donors have not already "max'd out" of the limit on political donations in 2006. We need a rubber chicken dinner circuit for leadership candidates to attend.