Thread by @JeffRybak

I've been thinking a lot about leadership, in context of the #olpldr contest. I've been thinking about what it means to belong to a political party, and to find that party in the hands of a leader you do not support and cannot condone. It's not a small problem. #onpoli 1/11

We're all familiar with calling out other parties for supporting "leaders" who have lost all moral authority to lead. Trump is the most obvious example, but also Ford, Kenney, etc. It happens on the left too - look at South America. But what about ourselves? #olpldr #onpoli 2/11

If it's wrong for Republicans to continue to support Trump, if it's wrong for socialists to continue to support Maduro in Venezuela, it must be wrong under some circumstances to support our own leaders. We cannot imagine ourselves immune to that scenario. #olpldr #onpoli 3/11

In the Ontario Liberal Party, I have seen calls for absolute unity behind any leader chosen. I have seen the assumption - stated openly - that any leader chosen deserves and should assume automatic support. I question that. Actually, I reject it outright. #olpldr #onpoli 4/11

The only possible justification for supporting any leader, even an unworthy one, is simply to beat Ford. This is the very same justification that props up Trump and every other unworthy leader. The justification is that our worst is better than their best. #olpldr #onpoli 5/11

I am not willing to follow any damn person just because they maneuver themselves into the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. I'm not willing to say "my team, right or wrong, just as long as we beat their team." That's no way to govern, or pick a leader. #olpldr #onpoli 6/11

I cannot and will not support @StevenDelDuca, or belong to a party that he leads. I consider myself a committed Liberal. I can support five of six candidates in this race. I can't support one, because he doesn't reflect my values as a Liberal. #olpldr #onpoli 7/11

We must not become a centre-right party bereft of ideals, beholden to developers and business interests, and dedicated to nothing more than holding onto power and winning by whatever means. @StevenDelDuca represents exactly these things. #olpldr #onpoli 8/11

I have yet to hear even @StevenDelDuca's supporters articulate a reason he should lead us, other than his access to money and, particularly from the #OYL, that he keeps giving them things and promising them nominations. "Because he can win" is not a platform. #olpldr #onpoli 9/11

I agree @StevenDelDuca could win in 2022. Anyone could. But then we need to govern, and if we sweep back into power with exactly the same attitudes voters rejected in 2018, they'll reject us again. We'll deserve it. And who knows when we get another chance. #olpldr #onpoli 10/11

In the #olpldr contest, I'm doing what every voter should do. I'm drawing a line in the sand. I'm demanding a leader worth following. And if anyone thinks that's wrong, look at what happens to other parties when they blindly follow the guy who promises he'll win. #onpoli 11/11