LeBlanc pulls hat out of the ring - all bets off

Only a day after I predicted longtime Canadian cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc would be the last man (?) standing at the end of the Liberals' search for a new captain  of the Titanic, the troughmeister announced today that he will not -- repeat, not -- be running to replace Prime Minister Blackie McBlackface. 

Mr White, as he is called in Canuckistan's other official language, announced his decision in a statement posted to social media this morning. "While I am extremely grateful for the encouragement and the expressions of support I have received from caucus colleagues and Liberals across the country," he wrote, "I have decided not to be a candidate in the Liberal Party of Canada's upcoming leadership race."

His decision came as something of a surprise to his caucus colleagues. M LeBlanc has been a true political survivor, an MP since 2000 -- nearly a quarter-century -- and contender for the Liberal leadership in 2008, before dropping out to support the charisma-challenged Michael Ignatieff.

Speaking on background, a Liberal MP told Walt's Agent 3, "Frankly, we didn't think he was smart enough to get out before the shit-hammer falls." Others, including Judy Sgro, Yasir Naqvi, Jennifer O’Connell, and Ken McDonald, expressed some disappointment at M LeBlanc’s decision not to put his name forward, with some adding they hope he'll reconsider. Their reason? See photo above.

Anyhoo... he's out and all bets are off. A new book will be opened once it is confirmed that there will be more than one entry. Readers who want their money bacl should contact Bernie at the barbershop, who will arrange for someone to drop it off.