John Godfrey's entrance in the Liberal leadership race is an interesting one - though not because he seems to have much chance of beating out the bigger names in the race. Based on my recollections of his book, The Canada We Want – Competing Visions for the New Millennium, Godfrey seems to have exactly the type of government-as-builder message which PMPM sacrificed in favour of devolution run amok. And even if he can't work his way into the leading contenders, any extended stay in the race could force the other candidates to actually discuss the merits of similar policies...which could do wonders to add substance to a race where Bob Rae otherwise seemed to have the centre-left vote sewn up based merely on his having previously been an NDP member.
Of course, the effect would only be strengthened if Godfrey were to win the leadership race with a policy-based campaign. (Mind you, such a result would probably be the worst-case scenario for the future of the federal NDP...so it's tough to root for that outcome.) But even the most orange of Liberals can't really expect Godfrey to be the last Lib standing amidst the glare of media stars like Ignatieff, Brison and Stronach.
Instead, Godfrey will merely offer the Libs a reminder that a country is built on ideas, not on personality cults. And if one of the less substantive right-wingers happens to emerge victorious despite that contrast, then more than a few left-Libs may take greater notice of the party which has been offering equally strong ideas all along.
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