NationStates

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:49 pm**

My usual disclaimer: if a thread's been created about this recently, please give me a good slap with a trout and close this up. As it is, I couldn't find a poll like this lately.

Yes folks, it's another 'greatest leader' debate. Doesn't look like we've had a Canadian one in quite awhile, so why not. For those not familiar with this format, it's quite simple - who do think was Canada's greatest Prime Minister? Since the creation of Canada in 1867, there have been 22 Prime Ministers, of which 13 have come from conservative parties, and 9 from the Liberal Party. All but one, Kim Campbell in 1993, are men. It's up to you to decide what makes the greatest Prime Minister, though often people judge by the criteria of things like lasting achievements, personal character, political longevity (for the PM and his/her party), ability to inspire and command respect, e.t.c. Or maybe you think being great means how many women you can pull (Trudeau would seem to win on that one), but it's up to you. Just vote in the poll and post with your reasons.

As for my choices in the poll, I've listed the top 9 from the aggregate rankings of the Prime Ministers from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_Canadian_prime_ministers I make no judgement on whether Maclean's has it right, but considering the poll has room for only 9 people + 'Other', I had to cut off somewhere.

So, get voting! Non-Canadians welcome to participate.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:52 pm**

Stephen harper obviously

/notbeingserious

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:57 pm**

Stephen Harper, FTW!

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:06 pm**

Any American president. Canada isn't a real country silly.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:06 pm**

I'm rather partial to Lester Pearson, Liberal Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968, under whom many of the great social programs were started, like Medicare. Nevertheless, my heart rather goes for Pierre Trudeau, his successor; an absolutely magnetic character, his achievements were less tangible on bread-and-butter issues, but he was a tireless campaigner for Canadian unity in the face of the separatists in Quebec, and he fought to give the country a constitution and a charter of rights. His personal live was also pretty entertaining - he was quite the ladies' man. Love him or hate him - plenty of people did either - you can't deny he was absolutely fascinating.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:10 pm**

Alf Landon wrote:I'm rather partial to Lester Pearson, Liberal Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968, under whom many of the great social programs were started, like Medicare. Nevertheless, my heart rather goes for Pierre Trudeau, his successor; an absolutely magnetic character, his achievements were less tangible on bread-and-butter issues, but he was a tireless campaigner for Canadian unity in the face of the separatists in Quebec, and he fought to give the country a constitution and a charter of rights. His personal live was also pretty entertaining - he was quite the ladies' man. Love him or hate him - plenty of people did either - you can't deny he was absolutely fascinating.

Trudeau was one of those politicians that leaves their mark, that's for certain

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:10 pm**

Pierre Trudeau. Nuff said.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:22 pm**

Rather partial to St. Laurent, Pearson, and Trudeau.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:24 pm**

Murkwood wrote:Stephen Harper, FTW!

Lol, I'm always curious to hear someone make the case for Harper.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:24 pm**

Trudeau.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:26 pm**

Looks like Trudeau is the runaway winner so far. But early days...

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:27 pm**

Alf Landon wrote:Looks like Trudeau is the runaway winner so far. But early days...

Well he was pretty ballin'.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:28 pm**

I'm surprised King doesn't have any votes.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:29 pm**

Napkiraly wrote:Rather partial to St. Laurent, Pearson, and Trudeau.

*waves to Napki*

Whenever I do one of these threads, I know it's not too long until you appear.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:31 pm**

Alf Landon wrote:
Napkiraly wrote:Rather partial to St. Laurent, Pearson, and Trudeau.

*waves to Napki*

Whenever I do one of these threads, I know it's not too long until you appear.

Well I like these kind of threads, eh.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:33 pm**

Arumdaum wrote:I'm surprised King doesn't have any votes.

Was just thinking about King, though I'm not surprised he isn't doing well. Even though he's regularly ranked as perhaps the greatest of all, he wasn't exactly an inspiring and charismatic figure, and apart from prosecuting the war, we often think of him as laying the foundations for the future social achievements by the likes of Pearson, rather than doing them himself.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:33 pm**

Arumdaum wrote:I'm surprised King doesn't have any votes.

He was pretty cool, even though he thought he could talk to Leonardo da Vinci and his deceased Irish Terriers.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:39 pm**

Napkiraly wrote:
Arumdaum wrote:I'm surprised King doesn't have any votes.

He was pretty cool, even though he thought he could talk to Leonardo da Vinci and his deceased Irish Terriers.

Yeah, was pretty ironic that for a person who seemed on the outside to be pretty boring, behind closed doors he was into some real weird stuff.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:39 pm**

I'm going with King for longevity given that he wasn't an exceptional orator or well liked by the voters.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:40 pm**

Alf Landon wrote:
Napkiraly wrote:He was pretty cool, even though he thought he could talk to Leonardo da Vinci and his deceased Irish Terriers.

Yeah, was pretty ironic that for a person who seemed on the outside to be pretty boring, behind closed doors he was into some real weird stuff.

Privately he was eccentric apparently. Which can easily be seen.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:43 pm**

Napkiraly wrote:
Alf Landon wrote:
Yeah, was pretty ironic that for a person who seemed on the outside to be pretty boring, behind closed doors he was into some real weird stuff.

Privately he was eccentric apparently. Which can easily be seen.

It's a lesson in psychology - the public persona of a person can often be at odds with their private one. Take Trudeau again - extroverted playboy on the outside, remarkably self-disciplined and intellectual on the inside.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:45 pm**

The Serbian Empire wrote:I'm going with King for longevity given that he wasn't an exceptional orator or well liked by the voters.

True, to be Prime Minister for a total of 22 years, despite not exactly winning an oratory award, he had to be doing something pretty right!

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:45 pm**

Alf Landon wrote:
Napkiraly wrote:Privately he was eccentric apparently. Which can easily be seen.

It's a lesson in psychology - the public persona of a person can often be at odds with their private one. Take Trudeau again - extroverted playboy on the outside, remarkably self-disciplined and intellectual on the inside.

And Jedi Master level troll through and through.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:47 pm**

Napkiraly wrote:
Alf Landon wrote:
It's a lesson in psychology - the public persona of a person can often be at odds with their private one. Take Trudeau again - extroverted playboy on the outside, remarkably self-disciplined and intellectual on the inside.

And Jedi Master level troll through and through.

Posted: **Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:48 pm**

It's between Chretien and Harper. As a conservative I vote Harper . But Chretien was awwsome

NationStates

Greatest Canadian Prime Minister?

Greatest Canadian Prime Minister?